Short answer
AI Overviews are summaries that appear at the top of some Google results when Google judges them additive. AI Mode is a separate, conversational experience for complex, multi-step and comparison queries. Both use query fan-out and link to supporting pages, but they may use different models, so answers and links can differ.
Comparison
| AI Overviews | AI Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Inside normal results | Separate mode |
| Trigger | Only when additive | User chooses it |
| Best for | Quick summaries | Complex, comparison questions |
| Links | Supporting links | Wider set of supporting links |
Questions
Do we need to optimise differently?
No. Google says the same SEO fundamentals apply to both.
Facts checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. Platforms change quickly: if something here no longer matches what you see, tell us and we will update it.
