Google changes the rules of SEO with AI Overviews

For years, doing SEO was synonymous with climbing positions on Google. The goal: reach the top 3. The prize: clicks, traffic, visibility. But that is changing. And fast.

Google no longer just organizes information: it now generates it. With the arrival of AI Overviews, the search engine provides a direct answer before showing the traditional results. The outcome? Many users no longer click. Because what they are looking for, they get in the first paragraph. And if your content isn’t cited there, you simply don’t exist.

From ranking to relevance

In this new scenario, appearing in the first organic result no longer guarantees visibility. More and more searches end in the overview generated by AI itself. In other words: the content that used to bring visits to your website now turns into a silent source feeding the search engine.

It’s not a reason for alarm, but a process of evolution. Traditional SEO is still important, but now it needs to adapt. You’re no longer just competing for positions, but for real relevance. Google —or rather, its artificial intelligence— is selecting the sources it considers most useful, clear, and trustworthy. And if you’re not among them, you’re out of the game.

What kind of content does AI cite?

AI doesn’t choose randomly. It looks for direct answers to real questions. It prioritizes content that explains, that solves, that guides. The clearer, more structured, and more specific you are, the greater your chances of being cited.

Some clues on what AI values:

• Well-formulated answers to common questions (“What is…?”, “How to…?”, “What’s the difference between…?”).
• Texts organized with subheadings, lists, and clear language.
• Updated content, with recent and relevant information.
• Perceived authority: websites that have already demonstrated expertise and reliability.

It’s not about generating content in volume, but about delivering real value. If AI trusts your answer, it will show it to the world. If not… you’ll still appear in the results, but further down, and with fewer clicks.

How to adapt to this new SEO

This change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Because it forces us to create better, more focused, more useful content. Here are some keys to start playing in this new league:

• Write with questions in mind. Think about how your audience searches, not how you want to rank.
• Be direct and specific. Avoid detours. Give the answer in the first paragraphs.
• Structure your content as if it were a conversation. Use clear headings, lists, and concrete examples.
• Update your articles regularly. “Fresh” content has a higher chance of being cited.
• Use formats that AI understands: FAQ sections, step-by-step guides, comparison tables…
• Build authority. Improve your online reputation, take care of your links, and create content others want to reference.

This is not a technical change. It’s a mindset shift. Now you’re not just competing to rank. You’re competing to be the answer.

SEO in the AI era: more human than ever

It may sound contradictory, but in a world where AI chooses what to show, the winners are those who best understand people. Artificial intelligence doesn’t invent answers: it builds them from the content you create.

That’s why, more than ever, the content that connects, informs, and solves is the one that leads. At Young-dogs, we believe that the SEO of the future is not just technical. It’s empathetic, strategic, and user-centered.

Conclusion: it’s no longer enough to exist, you must matter

AI is changing SEO from within. The rules are no longer just about positioning: they’re about usefulness, intent, and structure. And those who don’t adapt, disappear.

Today, the content that wins is the one that appears, responds, and convinces. Because in a search engine that answers for you, if you’re not the answer, you don’t exist.

What now?

At Young-dogs, we help you design content strategies not just to rank, but to be cited, shared, and truly useful in an environment where artificial intelligence decides what gets shown first.

Write to us if you want your brand to go from simply being on Google to being the source Google displays. SEO with AI, but with intelligence. And with vision