Google’s Search Console has just added two new tools that give webmasters a clearer view of how their content performs in the company’s emerging generative AI features, and a way to keep that content out of those features if they choose. The changes are currently available to a limited group of UK site owners, with a global rollout expected soon.
What Are the New AI Performance Reports?
The AI performance reports let site owners see exactly how many times their pages appear in Google’s AI‑powered search results. Unlike the traditional performance report, which focuses on clicks, impressions, and rankings, the AI reports break down data by the following dimensions:
- Impressions – The total number of times a URL is shown inside AI Overviews or AI Mode in Search, and inside AI features on Discover.
- Pages – A list of the specific URLs that were displayed.
- Countries – The geographic locations from which the impressions originated.
- Devices – A device‑level breakdown (desktop, tablet, mobile) available for Search results only.
- Dates – Performance over time, with the ability to drill down to hourly granularity.
There are two separate reports: one for Search results and one for Discover. They are not simply filtered views of the main performance data; they are dedicated dashboards that focus exclusively on AI‑related impressions.
It’s worth noting that the current reports do not include click data. Google’s help documentation confirms that impressions, pages, countries, devices, and dates are the only metrics available at this time, but the company has indicated that additional metrics will be added in the future.
How Does the Opt‑Out Toggle Work?
Alongside the new reports, Search Console now offers a toggle that lets site owners block their content from appearing in Google’s generative AI features. The key points are:
- Enabling the toggle will prevent your pages from showing up in AI Overviews, AI Mode, or Discover AI features.
- Opting out will not affect your normal search rankings or the visibility of your pages in the standard blue links.
- Sites that choose to opt out will simply not receive traffic or impressions from the AI features.
This control builds on earlier tools such as the snippet control and the “Noindex” meta tag, giving publishers a more targeted way to manage AI visibility without compromising their core search performance.
Why Are These Features Important for Publishers?
Generative AI is rapidly becoming a core part of how users discover information online. For publishers, understanding how their content performs in these new contexts is essential for several reasons:
- Audience Reach – AI features can surface content to users who might not otherwise find it through traditional search queries.
- Revenue Opportunities – Higher impressions in AI Overviews can translate into increased ad revenue or direct traffic to monetized pages.
- Content Strategy – Knowing which pages are most frequently shown in AI results can inform future content creation and optimization efforts.
- Control Over Brand Representation – The opt‑out toggle allows publishers to protect sensitive or proprietary content from being used in AI responses.
By providing dedicated AI performance data and a clear opt‑out mechanism, Google is giving webmasters the tools they need to navigate this evolving landscape without sacrificing their existing search success.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will blocking my content from AI features affect my organic search rankings?
No. Google has explicitly stated that opting out will not push your pages down in the standard search results. Your organic rankings will remain unchanged.
2. Can I selectively block only certain pages from AI features?
Currently, the toggle applies to the entire site. However, site owners can use the
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