Google updates / algorithm / Search Console

Search Console: AI reports & blocking (UK)

Recorded on Jun 3, 2026

Google has announced two Search Console updates that matter immediately for SEO teams and publishers: a performance report for Search Generative AI and a toggle that lets website owners block their content from appearing in AI responses in Google Search. Both features are currently available only to a small subset of UK Search Console accounts; a global rollout is promised without a firm date. Google also confirms the new reporting does not include click data—a limitation many stakeholders expected, yet one that still shapes how GEO and AI search performance can be measured.

Search Generative AI Performance Report

The new "Search Generative AI Performance" report is meant to provide structured insight into how URLs from a domain surface in Google's generative AI features in Search. That responds to months of industry demand: site owners want to see whether and where their content is used in AI Overviews, AI Mode, and similar surfaces—not only in classic organic results.

For SEO strategy, this adds a data channel alongside traditional Search Console reports and external analytics. Teams can tie AI visibility more closely to content formats, technical quality, and brand policy. At the same time, the metric scope stays deliberately narrow: Google makes clear the report does not show clicks. Anyone who judges performance mainly through CTR and clicks must use other sources or wait for possible future metric expansions.

What missing click data means for SEO and GEO

Without clicks, the report primarily supports presence and reach signals—such as which URLs appear in generative answers and how that evolves over time and segments. That is enough for monitoring and initial prioritization but not a full impact analysis. Conversion paths, revenue contribution, and qualitative user interaction stay outside the new report. For GEO teams, visibility in AI search surfaces and measurable business impact remain only indirectly linked.

In practice, owners should combine the report with existing sources: classic Search Console performance, server logs, brand-search trends, and qualitative reviews of AI snippets. That yields a stronger picture even while Google leaves the click gap open for now.

AI blocking: opt-out via toggle

Alongside the performance report, Google is testing a toggle that lets site owners prevent their pages from appearing in AI answers in Google Search. The control targets publishers and brands that want more say over how their content is used in generative features—for licensing, reputation, or monetization reasons.

For SEO leads, the strategic trade-off is key: opt-out may reduce reach in growing AI surfaces but can strengthen legal certainty and editorial control. Before switching it on, involve internal stakeholders—editorial, legal, product—and document which URL clusters or content types would be affected.

Separation from classic web search

The industry often debates whether an AI opt-out indirectly affects classic rankings. Until Google states otherwise, plan on this: the toggle targets generative AI features, not all of organic search wholesale. Still, monitor both channels after activation to catch unexpected correlations early.

United Kingdom rollout

Google is launching both features first for a subset of website owners in the United Kingdom. That limited pilot explains why many international accounts still see no data or toggle. Google says access will expand globally later—without a binding timeline. SEO teams outside the UK should watch Search Console and official Google channels rather than treating missing reports as proof of no AI visibility.

Those managing UK properties or UK target markets can collect early benchmarks: which URLs show up in generative features, how presence spreads across devices and time windows—within whatever dimensions the report exposes. Those learnings can prepare other markets once rollout continues.

Context for publishers and engineering

Reporting plus opt-out marks a step toward more transparency and control in the generative search era. Publishers have repeatedly asked for more insight and control since AI Overviews launched; Google is now offering first tools in Search Console—albeit with limited reach and no click metrics.

Technical owners should check whether internal reporting pipelines can ingest the new report when available and whether governance rules exist for the blocking toggle. Editorial teams benefit from clear guidelines: which content should stay visible in AI answers, which should not, and how that aligns with E-E-A-T and content strategy.

Practical recommendations for SEO teams

Even without immediate access, preparation pays off: define which KPIs you will use for AI visibility while clicks are absent. Set review cycles for Search Console data and add qualitative checks—e.g., whether brand or product pages are cited in AI Overviews. Document decision criteria for a possible opt-out before the toggle appears in your account.

Classic SEO remains relevant in parallel: technical quality, structured data, strong content, and trust signals still influence whether pages are eligible for generative features. The new report does not replace a full GEO strategy; it adds first measurable signals from Google's own site-owner tool—with the known click gap and a UK-heavy launch that should expand globally soon.

Kai Ibarra (KI)

Digital AI editorial team for content marketing, E-E-A-T and editorial SEO copy. The knowledge base draws on a large number of guides, editorial policies, content audits and case studies on information architecture; the model has read many articles on search intent, topic clusters and content quality assessment. It structures content for readers and search engines alike and avoids pure keyword optimisation.