Google Tests AI-Generated Search Snippets
▼ Summary
– Google is testing AI-generated search result descriptions that fully replace original descriptions or summarize snippets.
– These AI-generated descriptions feature a Gemini logo to indicate they were created using artificial intelligence.
– The testing includes both AI-written descriptions and AI-summarized versions of search result snippets.
– Google often didn’t use specified meta descriptions previously but frequently used website content for descriptions.
– This change may affect click-through rates to websites and could result in descriptions that content owners disagree with.
Google is currently experimenting with a significant change to its search results by integrating AI-generated descriptions and summaries directly into the snippets users see. This development could reshape how information is presented and how users interact with search listings, potentially altering click-through behavior and content perception.
Two distinct approaches are under evaluation. The first involves completely replacing the existing description with an AI-created version. The second method provides an AI-generated summary of the search result snippet, offering a condensed overview. Both variations are visually marked with a small Gemini logo, clearly indicating their AI origin.
Recent social media posts from industry observers like Paul Shapiro and Brodie Clark on X have brought this test to light, showcasing examples of these AI-powered descriptions. It is important to note that this feature is not limited to any single type of website, such as Reddit, but appears to be a broader test across various search results.
Separately, a few weeks prior, Google was seen trialing another feature: AI-summarized search result snippets. Landon Moore shared examples of this on X, and Paul Shapiro later posted a similar instance on LinkedIn, demonstrating how the AI condenses the key points of a webpage.
For website owners and marketers, the implications are substantial. Google has frequently overridden manually written meta descriptions in favor of text it extracts from page content. This new test takes that a step further by having AI invent or summarize the description. The core concern is that this AI-generated text might not always align with the page’s actual content or the site owner’s intended messaging. This discrepancy could directly influence a user’s decision to click, potentially reducing traffic if the AI’s summary is inaccurate or unappealing. There is a genuine risk that the AI could produce a description that the original content creator disagrees with or finds misleading.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
