Google Raises Inline Links in More AI Search Responses

Google is changing how links appear in AI Mode and AI Overviews, with a stronger focus on showing source links earlier in responses. According to Search Engine Journal, the update includes five changes affecting inline links, official site links, article carousels, and some video results.

For site owners, the main takeaway is simple: Google is trying more ways to surface sources inside AI search answers, not just at the end of a response.

What changed

Google said it has increased the presence of inline links in its AI search experiences and is placing those links higher up in more cases. It also plans to test a new format for some task-based searches where only a small number of official sources exist. In those cases, links to official sites may appear at the very top of the AI response, along with context about why each source is relevant.

Other changes affect how supporting content is displayed. Google is updating some end-of-response links with image thumbnails and a design it says is more clickable. It is also rolling out timely article carousels to more locations and languages, though it did not name them. In AI Mode, Google started testing clickable creator and publisher names on video results that lead to Search profiles.

What it means for your website

If your business depends on visibility in Google, these changes may create more chances for users to reach your site from within AI-generated answers. That is especially true if your pages are already being cited as inline sources or if your content can appear in timely article carousels. If a user has added your site as a Preferred Source, Google may highlight it more often as those carousels expand.

At the same time, not every visible change means a ranking report will change. Search Engine Journal noted that Search Console assigns all links within an AI Overview the overview’s single position in search results. So if an inline link appears higher inside the answer, that alone does not mean its reported position changes.

What to do now

• Check search results for your main topics in AI Mode and AI Overviews, especially in the locations and languages you serve.
• Watch whether your pages are being cited as inline links, shown at the end of AI responses, or included in timely article carousels.
• If your site publishes content that readers may want to follow regularly, monitor whether it is eligible for Preferred Sources visibility in Google’s AI search features.
• Do not assume higher placement inside an AI answer will show up as a better position in Search Console. Review traffic and visibility trends with that limit in mind.
• If your business relies on official information for specific tasks, watch for Google’s test that places official site links at the top of certain AI responses.