AI search statistics you need to know
In this article, I summarize current statistics from Ahrefs that show how AI-based search selects sources, which content is preferred, and what actually correlates with visibility.
Marcus StrömbergFeb 6, 2026
How AI search selects content is still a new field
How AI search works in practice is still a new area, and new studies are continuously being released by companies like Ahrefs and Semrush.
A key insight is that traditional SEO still provides the foundation, but factors such as format, choice of platforms, and the ability to answer direct questions are becoming increasingly decisive.
AI search statistics
- Google AI Mode and AI Overviews provide the same answer in 86 percent of cases when searching for the same thing, but they almost always refer to different sources. Only about 14 percent of the sources are the same.
- Google AI Mode cites no sources in 3% of its responses, while Google AI Overview cites no sources in 11% of its responses.
- Mentions on YouTube have the strongest link to visibility in AI search. It carries more weight than anything else. Both Google and OpenAI are trained on content from YouTube.
- Content used as a source in Google AI Overviews is, on average, about 1200 words long. This is roughly the same length as content that ranks high in standard Google results.
- There is almost no correlation between the length of a text and whether it is selected as a source in Google AI Overview. Short texts can work just as well as long ones.
- About 53% of all pages cited in Google AI Overview are shorter than 1,000 words. Roughly 30% have between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Approximately 16% are longer than 2,000 words.
- Approximately 76% of the pages referenced by Google AI Overviews are already in the top 10 of Google’s traditional search results.
- ChatGPT accounts for almost all (80%) AI traffic to websites.
- 99.99% of the content shown in Google AI Overview is information-based.
- Google AI Overview appears in nearly 58 percent of all searches formulated as questions.
Summary
In conclusion, we see that AI search is not replacing traditional SEO, but rather building upon it. To maximize your visibility, these are the three most important takeaways:
- Authority on YouTube is worth its weight in gold: Since both Google and OpenAI use YouTube as a training source, mentions there have a significant impact on your AI visibility.
- Quality and relevance beat quantity: There is no linear correlation between text length and the chance of being cited. Focus on answering questions directly and concisely, rather than writing at length just for the sake of it.
- Traditional ranking is still the foundation: Given that 76% of sources in Google AI Overview already rank in the top 10 of "standard" search, your existing SEO strategy remains your best path to Google AI Overview.
AI search is all about being the most reliable and accessible source for the information the user is looking for.
Marcus Strömberg
Marcus Strömberg has extensive experience in digital marketing, analytics, and data driven visibility. He helps companies understand how they are seen, compared, and chosen in AI search, as well as how they can work systematically to grow online.