Google announced updates to AI Mode and AI Overviews on 15 October 2026. The platform now displays inline links higher up in AI answers more frequently. Google is also testing a separate box for official websites right at the top of responses. News carousels are rolling out worldwide, and usage of the Preferred Sources feature has grown more than sevenfold since the start of the year.
Why this matters for public organisations
Google is linking its answers more directly to sources. In its test for official websites, one or two specific web pages get a spot in a separate box at the top of the AI answer, alongside a note explaining why the link is useful.
If someone searches for the rules behind a specific service, your page could appear as the official site. That link will feature at the top of the answer with extra context. Google is also showing images next to related articles at the bottom of answers, and testing clickable profiles for video creators. These changes affect how answer engines display information to citizens and supporters.
What you can practically do with this
- Make sure search engines can clearly recognise your site as the official source for your specific tasks.
- Keep your news items up to date so they can feature in news carousels for current search queries.
- Check how creator and publisher names appear on videos, as Google links these to search profiles in AI Mode.
Google is rolling out news carousels and testing official links gradually across multiple languages and locations. Structuring your official information now ensures AI systems can make your pages directly clickable.
Source: Google
