Google’s AI Overviews feature has become the face of our search engine results.
Type almost any question into your Google search bar, and the first answer you’ll get will be generated by AI.
Many enjoy this. Others are cautious.
Marketers and those in the online reputation management (ORM) industry are among those advocating for vigilance.
Why? Because Google AI Overview is often filled with information from online forums like Reddit and Quora.
And often, this user-generated content can be inaccurate — or outright false.
Why Google AI Overviews rely heavily on content from Reddit and Quora
But how and why does Google AI Overviews rely on user-generated content sites?
The answer is simple. Overview Google AI gets most of its information from “high authority” domains. This happens on platforms like Reddit and Quora.
Google also prioritizes “conversational content” and “authentic user experience.” They want searchers to find answers personally from other people on the Internet.
Furthermore, Google places the same amount of weight on these anecdotes as it does on factual reporting.
How negative threads end up in AI summaries
Obviously, the emphasis placed on Reddit and Quora threads can lead to problems. Especially professionals and those who lead product- or service-driven organizations.
Most Reddit threads that rise to the top are the ones driven by complaints. Consider a thread where users ask, “Does Brand X really suck?” or “Is Brand Z really a scam?”
The main problem is that these ropes are very popular. AI Overviews collects the consensus of many comments and combines them into one sound response.
Basically, the opinions of a few people end up being represented as the truth.
Additionally, Google AI Overview often resurfaces old threads that don’t have timestamps. This can lead to the re-presentation of outdated, often inaccurate, information.
Patterns recognized by SEO, ORM, and brands
Those in the ORM field have been noticing troubling patterns in the Google AI Overview for a while now. For example, we identified the following trends:
- Reddit’s biggest criticism: Criticism of Reddit is rising at an alarming rate. Google AI Overviews seem to ignore official responses from brands at times, opting instead for user opinions on social media.
- Pros vs cons summaries: These types of lists should appeal to balance. (Isn’t that the whole point of identifying both the pros and cons of a product?) However, sites like Reddit and Quora tend to emphasize the negative aspects of products, sometimes completely ignoring the benefits.
- Outdated content reappears: As mentioned in the previous section, outdated content can hold a lot of value. An alarming number of “solved problems” are gaining popularity in the Google AI Overviews feature.
The amplification effect: AI can turn vision into reality
We live in an age defined by instant information.
Gen Z takes in information at incredible rates. What is seen on TikTok is considered instant reality. Instagram is where many turn to for the latest news and updates on the latest products.
This has led to the amplification effect, where algorithms quickly transform an idea into reality. We’re seeing it widely across social media, and now in Google AI Overviews, too.
In addition to what we mentioned in the previous section, those in the ORM space see the following in action:
- A nuance-less summary: Because AI Overview is taking a surprising amount of criticism from Reddit, we’re getting some subtle answers. The focus of AI Overview is often one-sided and seemingly biased, including emotional, extreme language.
- Reply from: As others in the ORM field have pointed out, most of the citations in the Overview come from deep pages. It’s also common to see feedback loops where a single negative Reddit thread can hold multiple citations, leading to faster AI validation.
- Improved Trust in AI Overview: Perhaps the most troubling thing has been the public’s reluctance to accept the AI Overview and all the answers it has. Many users now turn to Google’s feature as their last encyopledia – without even paying attention to the quotes AI Overviews listed.
Misinformation and bias create risk
Overall, the rise of knowledge from Reddit and Quora on AI Overviews has led to an increase in risk for businesses and entrepreneurs alike.
False statements and defamatory claims posted online may be accepted as true. And the incomplete narratives or opinion-based criticisms circulating in the forums filter through the lens of the AI Overview.
To make matters worse, Google doesn’t automatically remove or filter AI snippets linked to harmful content.
This can damage the company’s reputation, as users absorb what they see in AI Overviews at face value. They take it as fact, even though it may be a myth.
Building an AI-driven fake search reputation strategy
As a business owner, it’s important to have responsive strategies in place Google AI Overview.
Working with the ORM team is an important first step. They may suggest the following steps:
- Online monitoring platforms: Yes, our modern world dictates that you stay on top of online forums like Reddit and Quora. Monitor the reputation of your business and the top players on your team. If you know the dialogue, you are already one step ahead.
- Creating “AI readable” content: It’s also important to always create content designed to get to the AI Overview. This content should improve your site in search engines, be worthy of citations, and reduce negative results.
- Addressing known criticisms: Have you seen criticism directed at your product? Seek to deal with it through proper business practices. Respond to online reviews with kindness, suppress or remove inappropriate content with your ORM team, and establish your business as a caring practice online.
- Connecting various groups: It is important to establish the right teams in your business. We already mentioned ORM, but what about your legal, SEO, and PR teams? Have the right experts in place to deal with any conflicts before they arise.
Also, remember to keep an eye on the future. Online reputation management is constantly evolving, and if your goal is to manage and promote your brand, you must evolve with the times.
That means staying up-to-date on AI and adapting to new KPIs, including sentiment modeling, source attribution, and AI visibility.
Staying on top of Google AI Overview
We live in a new age. One in which the AI Overview lays out much of that thought and search.
And the true fact is that most of the information on AI Overviews comes from user-dominated forums like Reddit and Quora.
As a product manager, you can no longer do nothing. You have to do. You must carry a sources that Google AI Overview summarizes, always one step ahead.
If you’re not, then you’re not managing your search engine reputation properly.
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