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https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/
That’s just for Google’s AI summaries, but it’s the only one with actual methodology disclosed I could find on a quick (non-AI) search.
Plenty of SEO mills with their own “studies” too, and the trend is similar. People don’t interact with the source sites or if they do it’s extremely seldom.
They (SEO mills) are currently trying to flip the gaslight towards “Worry not dear Webmaster, now you just have to make sure your content is now formed so it’s engaging for AI search and engage able right from the AI!” type shit.
I’m tired boss, and I’m not even generally (as in, in all aspects) anti-AI. Yet, I guess.
Ah yes, I’ve noticed lots of SEO consultant companies are trying to pivot into “we’ll help you to make AI scrape your website more so you show up in the AI search”.
I hadn’t seen the study before, thanks. That’s what I expected, honestly. I guess you could argue they are still building brand awareness, because people subconsciously note the brand as the source, but I don’t think that amounts to much.