Google Search Console AI Reports & Opt-Out Control: Full Guide 2026

Google has officially launched two critical tools for website owners navigating the age of generative AI search: a Generative AI performance report inside Search Console, and a global Search generative AI control toggle. Both features went live for all websites worldwide on August 31, 2026.

The key change is this: for the first time, site owners can see how often their content appears in AI-generated search features like AI Overviews and AI Mode, and they can decide whether Google’s generative AI systems can use their content at all.

This guide explains exactly what these tools do, how to use them, and what they mean for your SEO strategy moving forward.

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What are the new Google Search Console AI features?

Google has introduced two distinct capabilities in Search Console:

1. Generative AI performance report: A dedicated report showing organic impressions coming from Google’s generative AI search features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. It breaks down impressions by device type and country, and lists your top-performing pages.
2. Search generative AI control: A site-level toggle in Search Console settings that lets you include or exclude your content (including links) from being used by Google’s generative AI features — both to generate answers and to provide source citations.

These features are now available to all Search Console users globally, according to Google’s official support documentation.

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Generative AI performance report: What data does it show?

The Generative AI performance report is a new section within Search Console’s performance reporting suite. It surfaces data specifically for impressions generated when Google serves a generative AI response that references your content.

What you can see

• Total impressions from AI Overviews and AI Mode (combined in a single metric for now)
• Top pages ranked by impression count
• Device breakdown (desktop vs. mobile vs. tablet)
• Country/region breakdown
• Trends over time (you can select date ranges)

What you cannot see (yet)

• Click data: The report does not currently include clicks or click-through rates. Google has not said when or if it will add this data.
• Query data: Unlike the traditional Search Console performance report, this AI report does not show which user queries triggered your content to appear in generative responses.
• Conversion or engagement metrics: No tracking of user interactions after the impression.

The report is described as “organic impressions from Search generative AI features” in Google’s official announcement, and industry observers like Search Engine Roundtable confirm it is now widely available.

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How to access the Generative AI performance report

1. Sign in to Google Search Console.
2. Select the property you want to analyze.
3. In the left sidebar, click Performance.
4. Look for the new Generative AI tab above the main graph — it may appear as a separate entry or a filter option.
5. Click the tab to view the report.

The report interface looks similar to the standard performance report, but it exclusively shows impression data from AI Overviews and AI Mode.

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Search generative AI control: How does the opt-out work?

The Search generative AI control is a toggle found in Settings > Crawling > Search generative AI control. It gives site owners a single, global switch to control whether Google’s generative AI systems can use their content.

What the toggle does

• On (default): Google may use your content to generate AI answers in AI Overviews, AI Mode, and other generative search features. Your content may be cited as a source.
• Off: Google will not use your content to generate AI answers. Your links will not appear as source citations in generative responses. However, your content can still appear in traditional blue-link search results.

According to Google’s support page, this control applies site-wide. There is currently no per-page or per-section granularity, though Google may add that later based on feedback.

Important caveats

• This control does not block Googlebot from crawling your site. It only affects generative AI output.
• The control does not affect how your content appears in standard search results.
• It does not prevent your content from being used in non-search generative AI products (e.g., Bard or Gemini chat outside of Search).
• Google states that even if you opt out, your content may still appear in AI Overviews if it is cited from a third-party source that has not opted out.

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Comparison table: Performance report vs. generative AI control

Feature	Generative AI performance report	Search generative AI control
Primary purpose	Measure visibility in AI search features	Control whether content feeds generative AI
Data shown	Impressions from AI Overviews and AI Mode	No data — it’s a settings toggle
Granularity	Site-wide, with top pages listed	Site-wide only (no per-page option yet)
Click data	Not available	Not applicable
Query data	Not available	Not applicable
Effect on crawling	None	None — Googlebot still crawls
Default setting	Report automatically appears	Control is enabled (content may be used)
Availability	Global as of August 31, 2026	Global as of August 31, 2026

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What this means for SEOs and content marketers

The rollout of these tools represents a fundamental shift in how website owners need to think about search performance. Traditional click-based metrics are no longer sufficient.

1. Impressions are the new currency

With no click data available, the Generative AI performance report forces site owners to focus on brand visibility and topical authority rather than direct traffic. If your content consistently appears in AI Overviews, you’re establishing yourself as a trusted source — even if users don’t click through.

2. Content selection for AI becomes strategic

The search generative AI control gives site owners a choice: allow your content to fuel AI answers (gaining citation credit but likely losing clicks) or block it (preserving the chance for clicks from traditional results but forfeiting AI visibility).

For many publishers, the right answer will be to allow AI use — especially for well-researched, authoritative content. For thin affiliate pages or content with low added value, opting out may make sense to avoid cannibalizing click-through rates.

3. Filtering AI Mode prompts adds a layer of analysis

Tools and techniques for filtering AI Mode prompts in Search Console are emerging. Marketers can experiment with advanced filters to isolate AI Mode data from AI Overviews, though Google has not yet provided a native split.

4. The “zero-click search” debate intensifies

The lack of click data in the AI report highlights the ongoing tension between Google’s generative features and publisher traffic. As Search Engine Journal’s coverage notes, this is particularly significant for publishers who rely on referral traffic from search.

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Step-by-step: How to evaluate whether to opt out

Before flipping the Search generative AI control off, consider these factors:

Factor	Leave AI on (default)	Opt out of AI
Content type	Original research, in-depth guides, news	Thin affiliate content, aggregator pages
Business model	Brand awareness, thought leadership	Direct response, affiliate commissions
Competitive landscape	Few authoritative sources exist	Many similar pages compete for clicks
Traffic dependency	Low site dependence on search clicks	High site dependence on search clicks
AI Overview quality	AI Overviews cite you accurately	AI Overviews often misrepresent your content

If you decide to opt out, the change takes effect within a few hours to a couple of days, according to Google.

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Limitations and unanswered questions

While these tools are a major step forward, several gaps remain:

• No query data makes it difficult to understand which user intents are driving generative impressions.
• No click tracking means you cannot calculate a meaningful CTR for generative search.
• No per-page control limits flexibility — you must choose for your entire site.
• Third-party citations may still surface your content even if you opt out, as noted by Google.
• Impact on rankings is unclear — Google has not stated whether opting out affects standard search rankings.

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Looking ahead

The August 31, 2026 global rollout marks a turning point for search marketing. Site owners now have both visibility and control over their role in the generative AI ecosystem. The next likely developments include:

• Addition of click data and query data to the Generative AI report
• More granular page-level or folder-level opt-out controls
• Integration with Google Analytics 4 for deeper funnel analysis
• Emergence of third-party tools to benchmark AI visibility across competitors

For now, the priority should be to review your Generative AI impressions, identify your top-performing pages, and make an informed decision about the Search generative AI control toggle.

As SEO strategist and Search Engine Journal contributor Matt Southern noted in his analysis of the rollout, this is “a major step toward transparency in how Google’s AI surfaces content.” The question every site owner now faces is whether that transparency works in their favor.