Google is putting more links inside the answers in AI Mode and AI Overviews. It announced the change on 15 October 2026. Google hasn’t said who those links point to, or that clicks will go up. Short version for a trade: in our view there’s nothing new to do, but your page can only be one of those links if Google has indexed it.
What changed
Google calls them inline links. In plain terms, they’re links on words or phrases inside the AI answer itself. Google says it has made “continued and substantial increases” to how often they appear, and it’s launching updates to show them higher up in answers more often.
Google is also testing a new section at the top of some AI answers. Google says that sometimes there are only one or two official places to complete a task or get the exact information you need. The test would show those links in their own section, with a line on why each one is useful. In our view, a trade’s website is unlikely to be the official place for anything, so don’t expect to appear there.
Google’s post doesn’t name any countries or mention local businesses. It hasn’t said whether either change is live in the UK.
Why it matters to a trade
More links doesn’t mean more clicks for you. It does mean your page can only be one of them if Google has indexed it and can show it with a snippet. That’s the only extra requirement Google lists. There’s nothing extra to sign up for.
Take a question like “why does my boiler keep losing pressure”. That’s only an example. Google hasn’t said what it links to for it. In our view, the point is that a page that answers that question is the kind of page that could be linked to. A website with just a homepage has little for those links to point at.
What to do
- Check your job pages are indexed. Search Console’s Pages report shows which ones are.
- Leave Google’s AI setting on. Search Console has a “Search generative AI” setting. It’s on by default. Excluding your site takes your links and content out of AI Overviews and AI Mode.
- Keep an eye on Web traffic in Search Console. Google includes traffic from its AI features in the Performance report under Web.
For the bigger picture, including ChatGPT, see our guide on will ChatGPT recommend your trade business.
Want to see how many people search for your trade in your towns, and which firms show up for those searches now? Our free local forecast shows you.
Sources
- Google: More ways to connect with the web from Search (15 October 2026)
- Google Search Central: AI features and your website (last updated 10 December 2025)
- Search Console Help: Search generative AI control