2 min read
What changed
As of Q1 2026, roughly 25% of all Google searches trigger an AI Overview, rising to 48% in categories like health, finance and B2B technology
Studies confirm organic click-through rates drop between 15% and 47% when an AI Overview appears on the results page
Around 26% of searches with AI summaries now end without any clicks at all, compared to 16% for traditional results
What it means
The zero-click trend is accelerating and it is hitting Australian businesses in high-value categories hardest. If you operate in finance, health, professional services or B2B tech, nearly half your target searches may now show an AI-generated answer before any organic result. The traffic you used to get from ranking on page one is being absorbed by Google's own AI layer. This does not mean SEO is dead. It means the goal is shifting from ranking to being cited, both in Google's AI Overviews and in third-party AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
What to do
Identify your top 20 keywords in Search Console and check which ones trigger AI Overviews (search manually or use tools like Semrush AI Overview tracking)
Structure content to be cited: use clear question-answer formats, include specific data points and cite credible sources
Build presence on platforms that AI tools cite frequently (LinkedIn, YouTube and authoritative industry publications)
Track impressions vs clicks trends monthly. A stable impression count with declining clicks signals AI Overview absorption.
Source: eMarketer, MarketingProfs and B2the7
