Unique, non-commodity content
Google's generative AI optimisation guidance highlights the importance of providing content that adds real value rather than repeating what is already widely available.
Google AI Search
Google AI Overviews: what website owners actually need.
Google's current guidance says established SEO best practices remain the foundation for AI Overviews and AI Mode. There is no special AI schema or required AI text file for these Search features.
How do you optimise for Google AI Overviews?
Focus on normal Google Search eligibility first: crawlable and indexable pages, useful content, accurate information, strong internal links, good page experience and structured data that matches what users can see. Then improve the source qualities Google highlights for generative features, especially unique, non-commodity content and clear information.
You cannot force Google to show an AI Overview or select a particular source. The goal is to improve eligibility, usefulness and evidence.
Last reviewed by KRONATRIX: 23 August 2026.
Official eligibility basics
Be eligible for Google SearchThe page must meet normal technical requirements and not be blocked from Search.
Be indexed and snippet-eligibleGoogle says a supporting link needs to be indexed and eligible to appear with a Search snippet.
Use normal SEO foundationsHelpful content, crawlability, internal links and good page experience remain relevant.
Keep structured data accurateIf structured data is used, it should accurately represent the visible page content.
No special AI markup requiredGoogle does not require a special AI schema, special AI text files or llms.txt for its generative Search features.
Search policies still applyGoogle's spam policies apply to generative AI features as part of Search.
What Google says matters for generative AI features
People-first usefulness
A page should help a real user complete a task. Clear answers, examples, comparisons, images, video and first-party information can all contribute when relevant.
Technical accessibility
Google still needs to crawl, render and index useful pages. Correct canonicals, robots controls and internal links remain foundational.
Accurate entity information
Business, person, product, service and location information should be explicit and consistent rather than implied across scattered pages.
Evidence and trust
Claims should be supportable. Original research, real experience, source citations and accountable authorship can make information more useful.
Measurement
AI Overviews and AI Mode contribute to Search Console performance data. Measure page and query trends rather than assuming visibility from isolated screenshots.
What Google AI Overviews do not require
No special AEO or GEO markup
Google does not provide a secret schema type that guarantees inclusion in an AI-generated answer.
No llms.txt requirement
Google's current documentation says llms.txt is not used for Google Search and is not needed for visibility in its generative Search features.
No artificial content chunks
Use headings and sections because they help users navigate and understand content, not because a fixed chunk size guarantees retrieval.
No guaranteed source selection
Being indexed, well structured and useful improves the conditions for visibility but does not guarantee Google will cite or surface a page.
Practical checklist for Google AI Overviews
1. Confirm the URL is indexableCheck the canonical, robots meta tag, robots.txt access and HTTP status.
2. Put the answer near the topMake the central conclusion easy to understand before adding supporting detail.
3. Add original valueUse real examples, research, tools, data, images, video or expert reasoning where they genuinely improve the page.
4. Strengthen internal linkingConnect definitions, comparisons, evidence and related decisions with descriptive links.
5. Make the publisher clearShow who is responsible for the information and keep important business facts consistent.
6. Support factual claimsLink to authoritative or primary sources where the claim depends on external facts.
7. Keep structured data honestSchema should reinforce visible content rather than introduce claims the user cannot verify on the page.
8. Measure Search Console dataTrack impressions, clicks and query/page changes over time after meaningful updates.
Why a page may still not appear
It is not indexed
Google cannot use normal Search eligibility if the page has not been indexed.
The query does not trigger an AI feature
Google decides when an AI Overview or AI Mode experience is useful for a particular search.
The page is not the best fit
Other sources may better match the specific intent, evidence need, location, freshness or sub-question.
The content is too generic
A commodity summary may offer less value than sources with original evidence, first-hand experience or clearer explanations.
Signals conflict
Canonical, internal linking, entity information or duplicate pages may send inconsistent signals about which URL or source should represent the information.
Google simply chooses another source
Source selection is probabilistic and controlled by Google. No ethical optimisation can guarantee selection.
Improve the foundations Google can evaluate
What is AI SEO? · AI Visibility · What is GEO? · What is AEO?