16 AI Overview (AIO) statistics that show how Google’s AI Overviews are changing the way that users click, interact, and search in 2026.
Since they first started appearing in our search feed back in 2024, Google’s AI overviews have continued to grow and become present across more search queries. And whilst we still don’t know exactly how many clicks they are contributing, we do know that they are changing CTRs and giving rise to more zero-click searches.
To understand just how impactful Google’s AI Overviews have been, we have compiled a list of 16 of the most interesting (and illuminating) AIO statistics worth knowing about in 2026.
1. Google AI overviews appear on 21% of all search results
The latest data shows that 21% of Google searches now trigger an AI Overview. Whilst this number may seem relatively modest in the face of growing AIO presence, it is important to remember that different types of searches i.e. informational, as well as different categories/industries, may appear at a significantly higher (or lower) rate, which skews this figure. Whilst some reports claim that the frequency of AI overviews in search results is as high as 60% in 2026, there are no reputable sources to substantiate this claim.
2. AI Overviews grew by 116% between March and May 2025
One of the key events that we saw in the fallout from the March 2025 Google core update was the rapid growth of AIO. We now know that this wasn’t a placebo with a confirmed AIO increase of 116% following the March 2025 core update.
3. AI Overviews reduce click through rate (CTR) by 35%
The latest data shows that searches which feature an AI overview receive almost 35% lower click through rate (CTR) when compared to searches that did not feature an AIO. This statistic highlights the stark increase in zero click searches since the advent of AI overviews.
4. 27.2% of all searches are zero click
The latest data from 2025 showed a significant increase in zero click searches between 2024 and 2025 as more users found information directly from the SERPs which mitigated the need to “click through” to the website. This statistic highlights one of the key criticisms of AIO as publishers/websites are no longer receiving clicks for providing information/value to users. Whilst sources now claim that up to 60% of all searches are zero click, there is currently no quantifiable data to back up this claim.
5. 57.9% of questions trigger an AI overview
AIO has always skewed towards informational searches, so it should come as no surprise that more than half of all questions searched in Google trigger an AI overview to appear.
6. 10% of single word keyword searches trigger an AI overview
AI Overviews aren’t just reserved for longtail searches with the latest data showing that 1 in 10 single keyword searches now triggers an AI overview.
7. Informational queries account for 99% of all AI overviews
Informational queries are the largest catalyst for triggering an AI overview with the latest data confirming that 99% of all AI overviews come from informational search queries.
8. Navigational queries account for just 0.09% of AI overviews
A navigational query – i.e. brand name searches where users will search a website name instead of typing the URL address into the search bar have the lowest rate of AI overviews with just 0.09% triggering an AIO.
9. AI Overviews appear on 46% of all searches containing 7+ words
We know that longer searches are more likely to trigger an AIO – but this is the data that you need to back it up. The latest data shows that searches that contain seven or more words trigger an AI overview to appear 46% of the time.
10. The top 50 global domains account for 28.9% of all AIO mentions
The top 50 global domains account for almost 30% of all AIO mentions with reddit, Wikipedia, Quora, and Google’s own YouTube leading the way in AIO citations as of 2026.
11. Reddit is the most cited source in AI Overviews
When Google expanded its partnership with reddit in 2024, Reddit received an enormous boost to its organic traffic. Now, almost two-years down the line, reddit is the most cited source in Google’s AI overviews with more than 3-million mentions.
12. Just 4% of Adult/NSFW queries trigger an AI Overview
We know that a significant portion of internet search can be classified as not safe for work, however, we now know that AIO have been slow to catch up to these searches with AIO appearing on just 4% of all adult searches.
13. Science queries have the highest rate of AI overviews at 43.6%
Science leads the way in topics that trigger AI overviews with a whopping 43.6% of science related searches triggering an AI overview to appear.
14. 68% of local searches include AI overviews
The latest data shows that a whopping 68% of local intent searches now trigger AI overviews to appear. The statistic highlights that Google is using native and third-party platform reviews to feed results for local AIOs.
15. Shopping searches have the lowest rate of AI overviews at just 3.2%
Shopping and e-commerce have been the least disrupted by the emergence of AIO with just 3.2% of all shopping related searches triggering an AIO.
16. Non-branded searches are 2x more likely to trigger an AIO
Non-branded search terms are twice as likely to trigger an AI overview when compared to branded search queries. Given that navigational search is the lowest contributor to AIO, this statistic confirms that non-branded and informational searches are far more likely to generate an AIO result.
