In May 2024, Google introduced AI Overviews, an innovative feature that generates straightforward, AI-generated summaries at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). Designed to simplify information delivery, AI Overviews are changing how users interact with search results. But for businesses, bloggers, SEO professionals, and content marketers, this innovation raises a critical question: Can you still rank #1 on Google and get clicks, now that AI Overviews are siphoning off up to 30% of them?

Let’s discuss this challenge in detail, what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can still do to claim your place in the SERP spotlight.

What Are Google AI Overviews?

Google’s AI Overviews are short, AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results for many queries. They typically include a conversational-style paragraph, links to a few supporting sources, and sometimes suggested follow-up questions.

For example, if someone searches “best digital marketing agency in Kerala,” the AI Overview might instantly display a shortlist of agencies, a brief explanation of what makes them effective, and mention a couple of websites, all before any traditional organic results are shown. This reduces the chances of users scrolling down to click on your actual website. It’s efficient for users. But for website owners, it’s a little disturbing.

Understanding the Risks Behind the 30% Click Loss

According to early reports and SEO studies, some websites are experiencing a 20–30% drop in organic click-through rates (CTR) when AI Overviews appear on the results page. Why? Because users are increasingly getting what they need without clicking through to the source.

The phenomenon isn’t new; Google’s featured snippets, answer boxes, and “zero-click searches” have been reducing CTRs for years. But AI Overviews go further, combining the power of summarization with natural language generation to replace the need to visit multiple websites altogether.

This means even if you rank #1 organically, you might not be the first thing a user sees or clicks on.

Does Ranking #1 Still Matter?

Yes — but with conditions.

Ranking #1 on Google is still highly valuable. Visibility matters. Authority matters. But the way users engage with the top results is developing. Here’s what’s changed:

  • Position Zero vs. Position One: AI Overviews are now effectively “position zero,” pushing traditional results further down. So even if you rank #1, you’re not necessarily seen first.
  • Fewer clicks, more brand exposure: Being cited in an AI Overview can increase brand recognition, even if it doesn’t always result in a click.
  • Contextual value exceeds keyword stuffing: AI Overviews pull from content that provides clear, useful answers, not just keyword-rich fluff. Google’s AI looks for content with depth, clarity, and reliability.

So while the mechanics of ranking remain important, your goal must shift from just visibility to value delivery.

How AI Overviews Choose Their Sources

Google hasn’t disclosed the full mechanics of how sources are selected for AI Overviews, but SEO experts have observed a few key patterns:

  1. Content clarity and structure: Well-structured content with concise, paragraph-style explanations often gets picked.
  2. E-E-A-T signals: Expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) remain essential. Content composed by recognized experts or hosted on authoritative domains tends to perform better.
  3. Semantic relevance: AI Overviews are context-aware. They favour content that directly addresses user intent in a natural, informative tone.
  4. Technical SEO health: Fast Sites, mobile-friendly, and schema-optimized have better odds of being cited.

Being part of an AI Overview, even if it doesn’t guarantee a click, may still boost your site’s perceived credibility. But the real challenge is standing out when fewer users scroll down to the organic results.

Who’s Winning and Who’s Losing?

Not all websites are affected equally by AI Overviews.

Winners:

  • Local experts who provide detailed, accurate answers.
  • Health, finance, and education sites that invest in trustworthy content.
  • Websites with strong technical SEO and clear information architecture.

Losers:

  • Clickbait-heavy blogs that depend on curiosity to earn clicks.
  • Thin content pages with little original insight.
  • Sites depending on high-volume, low-intent search terms

Essentially, sites that fail to offer a real sense of originality are seeing declines in traffic.

Strategies to Stay Visible

So, the big question: Can you still win clicks and rank #1, even in an AI-dominated SERP? Yes,  but it requires a strategic change. Here’s how:

1. Optimize for Inclusion in AI Overviews

Instead of worrying about AI Overviews, work to become one of the sources mentioned. You should focus on:

  • Writing direct, helpful answers to common questions.
  • Using proper headings, schema markup, and structured content.
  • Highlighting your credentials or experience if relevant to the topic.

2. Target Long-Tail and Conversational Queries

AI Overviews are great at summarizing broad topics but often miss very specific, minute, or localized questions. Target these to capture traffic that Google doesn’t summarize well.

3. Double Down on Brand Authority

Build a recognizable brand so that even if users see your name in an AI Overview, they’re ready to click through for the full story. This includes:

  • Publishing thought leadership.
  • Collecting positive reviews.
  • Being active on other channels (LinkedIn, YouTube).

4. Create Content That AI Can’t Summarize

Not all content is easily reduced into an AI Overview. Unique perspectives, in-depth tutorials, personal case studies, and interactive tools are hard for AI to summarize and more likely to drive engagement and backlinks.

5. Improve On-SERP Appearance

Use schema markup to show star ratings, FAQs, prices, and other rich elements. Even if you’re not in the Overview, you can still stand out visually in the results below it.

6. Encourage Direct Engagement

Convert visitors more effectively when they do click by:

  • Improving load speed and design.
  • Using clear CTAs.
  • Offering lead magnets like free downloads or consultations.

Every click will count more, so make sure your site turns visitors into loyal users.

What the Future Holds for Organic Search

Google is growing from a search engine into an answer engine. This transition was always coming, but AI Overviews have boosted it. Here’s what you can expect next:

  • More zero-click queries: As AI gets better at fulfilling search intent directly on the SERP.
  • Higher competition for fewer clicks: Only the most useful, credible, and engaging sites will earn visits.
  • Greater importance of content quality: The AI doesn’t just care about keywords; it cares about the clarity, helpfulness, and authority of the answer.

If your SEO strategy was built exclusively around ranking for keywords, now is the time to rebuild around serving real user needs.

To answer the initial question, I would say yes, you can still rank #1 and succeed with SEO, even as AI Overviews reduce clicks. But it’s no longer enough to track rankings. You must:

  • Create better, deeper, and more valuable content.
  • Understand user intent on a human level.
  • Use AI as part.

SEO is no longer just about ranking first. It’s about being the most useful result in a world where answers come fast and attention is limited. So don’t just aim to rank. When you provide real value, users will discover you, click, and remain engaged.