UK Site Owners Now Empowered: Opt Out of Google’s AI Search Results

Furthermore, the regulatory body has mandated Google to attribute content accurately by providing clear links to the sources in all AI-generated responses. The tech giant has been given approximately nine months to implement these controls within the compliance timeline. During this period, Google will also be required to submit detailed progress reports to the regulator every six months for the first year.

Recently, at its annual I/O event in May 2026, Google unveiled radical updates to its search engine. The company is replacing the conventional search bar with an “intelligent” search box that expands dynamically. Users can now upload files, images, videos, or even attach open Google Chrome tabs to retrieve comprehensive answers.

Google also introduced a suite of autonomous AI agents designed to run in the background continuously, providing users with up-to-date information. Notably, leadership announced that Gemini 3.5 Flash now powers AI Mode to expedite conversational queries.

While Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode have garnered impressive user numbers, with over 2.5 billion and 1 billion monthly active users respectively, there is a potential downside for publishers. The direct answers provided on search pages could lead to significant losses in website traffic as users may not need to click through to the sites. However, Google has announced that it is collaborating with regulators such as the UK’s CMA and is testing a new toggle in Search Console. This feature allows publishers to opt-out of generative search features without affecting their standard organic search rankings.

In addition, Google is introducing new insights for site owners through Search Console. These analytics will provide impression metrics and list the specific pages that appear in AI responses. Moreover, they will track country-level data, allowing publishers to monitor their performance more effectively. Initially, these controls will be available for UK publishers before a global rollout.