Google now opens AI Overviews in full on definition searches, pushing web links below the fold
When people search for the meaning of a word, the AI summary now shows up complete, with no click to see more, and fills the entire visible part of the results page.
Google has started showing AI Overviews already expanded on searches for word definitions. Someone who searches for, say, "define expandable" no longer has to click "Show more" to read the whole summary: it appears in full and takes up the entire visible part of the results page. The web links only show up once you scroll.
The change was reported by Search Engine Roundtable in a story published on November 11. According to the site, Google was already expanding some AI Overviews dynamically, depending on the query, and is now doing it on every definition search. Previously, the summary appeared collapsed and you had to click to open it.
Who spotted it first
Glenn Gabe noticed the change and posted about it on X:
"Looks like definitions now show fully expanded AI Overviews by default. I think this is sort of new... and maybe very new. Checking saved captures, I see these AI Overviews collapsed until recently (or not showing at all). A big heads-up for sites that provide definitions and meanings."
Back in August, Google's Robby Stein had already explained to the site how dynamic expansion works:
"AI Overviews only expand dynamically on topics where our systems determine it's most helpful. If someone has already started scrolling the page, the expansion stops so they keep their place. We're always testing and tweaking these experiences and will keep refining them based on user feedback."
What it means for brand and SEO teams
For sites and brands that publish definitions and meanings, the AI summary now takes over the entire first screen of the page, and the web results sit below it, waiting for the user to scroll. That is the group Gabe aimed his warning at.
Key questions
On which searches do AI Overviews appear expanded by default?
On searches for word definitions, such as "define expandable". The summary appears in full, with no need to click "Show more".
Was Google already expanding AI Overviews before?
Yes, some of them, dynamically depending on the query. According to Google's Robby Stein, that only happens on topics where the company's systems decide expansion is most helpful.
Where do the web links appear on these searches?
Below the AI summary. You have to scroll down the page to reach them.
Source: Search Engine Roundtable.