In the latest case of tell and don’t show, Google’s VP/GM of Advertising (Ads on Search/Google Properties) Shashi Thakur was interviewed by Marketing Brew about whether users will click on links in AI Overviews. His response:
But when asked whether he would share any stat or research to back that claim up, he responded:
Why we care. Google is facing heavy criticism about the quality of Search results and from brands and content creators who are afraid they will get less organic search traffic. Meanwhile, Google is so carefully wordsmithing its answers in a PR-friendly way – to focus on how much users “love AI answers” – that it feels forced, inauthentic or even fake.
But this manufactured enthusiasm is wearing thin. Where’s the proof? Why won’t Google share any actual data?
‘Diversity of clicks and higher clicks’. Thakur was asked about publishers’ concerns that their websites will get fewer clicks in Google Search results, which would also impact Google’s ad business. Thakur, like Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, used a lot of words to say pretty much nothing:
This non-answer is all over the place. He was asked about display ads on publisher sites, but brought it back to AI Overviews, which are not display ads.
Also, publishers don’t care about diversity of clicks. They want traffic – and most want to monetize that traffic. Greater visibility is what leads to greater amounts of traffic.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Bing’s Fabrice Canel has said we should expect less click volume, but more “qualified clicks” from AI search. Shouldn’t we expect the same from Google? After all, Google’s AI answers are supposed to reduce the amount of time and searches needed to accomplish tasks.
Commercial clicks. Thakur also wasn’t asked about clicks in AI search for commercial queries, but talked about it anyway. Twice:
Facepalm.
The interview. What Google’s VP and GM of Search Ads has to say about AI-powered results