Google’s AI Overviews Are Taking Over - Is SEO Dead?
AI Overviews now sit at the top of many Google results. But they’re not everywhere - and that’s the point.
We ran 150,000+ search queries across different intents to map exactly where AI shows up, where it doesn’t, and what that means for the rest of the SERP.
Google is being selective. Some queries trigger AI instantly. Others are completely ignored. Snippets, maps, product carousels, and PAA boxes still hold ground - but not always.
There’s a clear system behind it.
If you want to know when Google uses AI - and when it steps aside - keep reading.
Methodology: How We Analyzed 150K+ SERPs
We started by generating 300 keyword variations per intent type using Google’s Gemini AI. These acted as seed terms.
Next, we expanded the set using Google Keyword Planner to pull thousands of related queries per intent. From that pool, we randomly selected search terms for analysis.
In total, we analyzed over 150,000 Google SERPs, programmatically checking each one for:
- AI Overviews
- Featured Snippets
- People Also Ask
- Knowledge Panels
- Other SERP features
The goal: isolate patterns in feature appearance across different query intents, not just broad volumes.
AI Overviews Are Intent-Driven - Not Universal
AI Overviews don’t appear in every search. Across 150K+ queries, they showed up in roughly 30% of SERPs - but the distribution wasn’t random.
They spike for problem-solving and how-to queries (up to 75%), and drop to near-zero for navigational, local, or transactional searches.
Google clearly prioritizes AI summaries where synthesis adds value - not when users just want a location, brand, or purchase.
Featured Snippets = AIO Gateway
Featured Snippets still play a key role. In fact, if your page holds a snippet, there’s a 60%+ chance it will also be cited in the AI Overview. They often co-occur - suggesting snippet optimization still influences visibility in AI-driven results.
PAA Is Still Ubiquitous
People Also Ask boxes remain dominant - present in 92% of all queries. They appear with or without AI Overviews and remain critical for discovery, especially in informational searches.
Knowledge Panels Still Own Entity Queries
For queries about known brands, places, or people, Knowledge Panels often replace or appear alongside other SERP features.
- Travel-related: 41% had Knowledge Panels, vs. 21% AIO
- Product/commercial: 9% had Panels, AIO rare
Google falls back on structured data when facts matter more than summaries.
Intent Deep Dive: Problem-Solving Queries - AI Leads
When users need a fix or answer, Google leads with AI. These queries include troubleshooting, symptoms, how-tos, and DIY tasks - and they consistently trigger AI Overviews more than any other intent.
Symptom Checkers: AI Is the First Responder
- AI Overviews appeared in ~75% of symptom queries - the highest of any category.
- Featured Snippets: ~18%
- Knowledge Panels: Rare
Despite being a YMYL category, Google is confident surfacing AI summaries — likely sourced from trusted medical sites.
Tech Troubleshooting: AI Fills the Gaps
- AI Overview in 56% of queries
- Featured Snippets: Just 5%
Tech issues often lack a single-page solution. AI fills that gap by aggregating answers. Traditional snippets underperform here.
How-To Tutorials: Dual Strategy - AI + PAA
- AI Overview in 44% of general how-to queries
- Featured Snippets: ~18%
- PAA: Nearly universal
Google uses AI to summarize quickly - then reinforces it with snippets and follow-up questions. Users get both instant and detailed options.
DIY Home Projects: AI Takes a Back Seat
- AI Overview in only 17%
- Videos: 86%
- Forums: 57%
- Immersive product views: 21%
These queries lean visual and community-driven. Google favors walkthroughs, YouTube content, and real-world discussions over generative answers.
Informational Queries: AI Joins - It Doesn’t Replace
These are general knowledge or curiosity-driven searches - not urgent problems, but users want clear explanations.
Key SERP Feature Breakdown:
- AI Overviews: ~48%
- Featured Snippets: ~22%
- Knowledge Panels: ~17%
- PAA: Frequently present (often alongside AIO)
How Google Handles These Searches:
Google uses a blended strategy. AI Overviews often appear but don’t dominate. They typically show up alongside:
- Snippets, which offer concise, cited facts
- Knowledge Panels, especially for known entities (events, concepts, people)
- PAAs, providing follow-up questions and deeper paths
In many cases, users get both AI summaries and Knowledge Graph data - one for context, one for facts.
Bottom line: For learn-intent queries, AI complements the SERP - it doesn’t replace core features.
Navigational & Local Queries: AI Stays Out
When the user’s intent is to find a place, brand, or event - not get an answer - Google skips AI. These are handled by traditional SERP features.
Find Nearby: Local Pack Dominates
- AI Overviews: 0.14%
- Local Pack (map + listings): ~86%
- Knowledge Panels: Frequent for branded entities
Google doesn’t generate AI summaries when users just want directions or a nearby option. It surfaces maps, pins, and official business info.
Event Searches: Structured Widgets, Not AI
- AI Overviews: ~7%
- Event Listings / Local Packs: Primary feature
- Knowledge Panels: ~12%
- Snippets: Rare
For queries like “concerts this weekend,” Google pulls from structured event feeds - not AI. The SERP shows dedicated widgets or venue panels instead.
Bottom line: Google turns AI off for navigational and local searches. It knows users need tools, not summaries.
Commercial & Transactional Queries: AI Takes a Back Seat
These are high-value searches: product research, comparisons, and buying intent. Google monetizes these heavily - and keeps AI Overviews mostly out of the way.
Purchase Intent: Google Pushes Products, Not AI
- AI Overviews: ~5.5%
- Immersive Product Experiences (IPX): >50%
- Total product-focused features (incl. ads): ~65%
- Knowledge Panels: ~9%
- Featured Snippets: ~1%
When users are ready to buy, Google surfaces visual shopping units, carousels, and ads - not AI summaries. These SERPs are designed for conversions, not content.
Product Comparisons: AI Shows Up, But Opinions Win
- AI Overviews: ~21%
- Perspectives (forums, reviews, videos): ~28%
- Featured Snippets: ~3%
- People Also Ask: Frequently present
Comparison queries get some AI support, but Google prioritizes user-generated content. Forums, reviews, and side-by-side breakdowns are more trusted than AI blurbs.
Travel Planning: Mixed Intent, Mixed SERP
- AI Overviews: ~21%
- Featured Snippets: ~27%
- Booking widgets/ads: Frequent for transactional queries
- Knowledge Panels: Present for destination or venue queries
AI appears for top-funnel questions like “best time to visit” but disappears for bookings or commercial keywords. Google leans on structured travel tools and ads when the user intent shifts to action.
Bottom line: AI Overviews are limited in commercial SERPs. When money is on the line, Google sticks with structured, visual, and monetized results.
Recipe Queries: AI Gets Out of the Way
Recipe-related searches almost never trigger AI Overviews. Google relies on specialized SERP features designed for high-intent, visual content.
SERP Feature Breakdown:
- AI Overviews: ~2%
- Featured Snippets: ~0.4%
- Recipe Cards (rich results): Nearly universal
Users searching for recipes want ingredients, images, and ratings - not summaries. Google delivers exactly that with purpose-built rich results.
Bottom line: AI is intentionally deprioritized. Recipe cards rule this space — and for good reason.
Conclusion
AI Overviews appear in about 30% of searches, but their presence is highly dependent on intent.
They are most common in queries that require explanation or synthesis - symptoms, tech issues, general how-tos. In these cases, AI often replaces or supplements traditional features like snippets and PAAs.
In contrast, AI Overviews are almost entirely absent in navigational, local, and purchase-focused searches. These rely on structured SERP elements: local packs, product carousels, knowledge panels, and event widgets. Recipe queries follow a similar pattern, dominated by rich results specifically designed for that format.
Snippets and PAAs still play a central role across most intents, and often co-occur with AI summaries. Knowledge Panels are more intent-bound, showing up where entities are involved.
Google’s use of AI in search isn’t broad - it’s selective. Understanding that distribution is key to aligning content with how the modern SERP actually works.
