Noting how the “way people consume information evolves,” Google announced five updates to boost links in AI Mode and the Gemini app, as well as support the web.
As the way people consume information evolves, we’ll continue to improve our products for people around the world and engage with feedback from stakeholders across the ecosystem. We’re doing this work in collaboration with websites and creators of all sizes, from major news publishers to new and emerging voices.
Following the US and India, Google is bringing Preferred Sources to Search users around the globe. This elevates your chosen websites and publications in the Top Stories carousel that appears in Search results. There’s also a “From your sources” carousel. Tap the star icon to the right of “Top stories” on the results page to set, while many sites today offer shortcuts.
Google says users that pick a preferred source click that site “twice as much on average.” So far, there are “nearly 90,000 unique sources, from local blogs to global news outlets.”
In the “coming days,” it’s coming to English-language users worldwide. Preferred Sources will be available for all supported languages “early next year.”
Similarly, Google Search is updating the Web Guide Labs experiment that uses AI to organize the results page into topic groups. Aimed at “more complex, open-ended searches,” Web Guide is now twice as fast. For those that have opted-in, Google is now showing it for more searches in the “All” tab.
Google is “increasing the number of inline links” that appear in AI Mode, and updating the design to “make them more useful.” Also of note are “contextual introductions to embedded links” in responses that “explain why a link might be helpful to visit.” For example:
These articles suggest budget-friendly decor ideas, including secondhand shopping, architectural updates like molding and hardware swaps, and DIY projects to achieve a vintage look:
Meanwhile, Gemini app responses will “highlight” and “prioritize” links from news publications that you have a subscription to. There will also be a dedicated carousel for these links. This will be available in the coming weeks, and is coming to AI Mode and AI Overviews next year.
Finally, Google announced a “new commercial partnership program” with publishers from around the world to “explore how AI can help drive more engaged audiences.” This includes: Der Spiegel, El Pais, Folha, Infobae, Kompas, The Guardian, The Times of India, The Washington Examiner, and The Washington Post.
Specifically, this “AI pilot program” will result in new features for Google News (mobile apps and website). You might see AI-powered article overviews on their Google News pages to “give people more context before they click through.” Audio briefings are another experiment, with Google noting how these features will “include clear attribution and link to articles.”
Google is also partnering with publishers on real-time information to “enhance results” in the Gemini app. This includes the Estadão, Antara, Yonhap, and The Associated Press.
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