If the same URL appears in both the Google AI Overview and the classic blue 10 links, Google Search Console treats it as one occurrence, not two.
That clarification comes directly from Google’s John Mueller.
It’s the background. Mark Williams-Cook, director at SEO agency Candor and founder of AlsoAsked, shared it publicly on LinkedIn after an interview received by Jamie Indigo. The question arose as SEOs try to understand how AI Overview affects visibility metrics when a page appears multiple times on the same results page.
- Williams-Cook originally thought the URL might generate two impressions. That assumption was based on how old SERP features, such as tweet boxes, were ranked historically.
- Assessing this situation can be difficult, but Mueller finally confirmed that the Search Console includes that view.
What’s going on. Google considers AI Overview as one place in search results. All links within that View all share the same status, and the usual rules of appearance apply.
- If a URL appears more than once in the same search query – whether it’s within the AI Overview or in the regular organic list – Search Console doesn’t count those appearances as separate occurrences of the same query.
Why is this happening. Google defines an impression as a user who sees, or is likely to see, a link in the current set of results.
- Multiple occurrences of the same URL on a single results page are combined rather than counted individually.
- This approach is consistent with the way Google handles impressions from other SERP features, such as information panels.
- Scrolling backwards, or encountering the same URL on multiple items on a page, does not generate more impressions.
Why do we care. Many SEOs are struggling to translate performance in this AI-driven search era. It’s helpful to know that appearing in both AI Overview and regular listings will not increase your impression counts. However, appearing in AI Overview and as a blue link in the same SERP is still important. It improves brand visibility and strengthens authority and credibility with Google users.
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