Fact-checking Google's AI Overviews just got a little easier - here's how
Source: ZDNet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google’s AI now shows you the original sources via pop-up windows.
- The new option works in both AI Overviews and AI Mode.
- Just click the link in the pop-up to view the source’s website.
I often turn to Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode when I run a search on a particular topic. The resulting Gemini‑based summaries can cut to the chase by providing the gist of the information I seek. But there’s one big downside: AI can be wrong. For that reason, I never rely solely on AI; I always double‑check the original sources used to create the summary. And now Google has made that process easier.
Also: How to get rid of AI Overviews in Google Search: 4 easy ways
In a recent post on X, Robby Stein, product VP for Google Search, announced a new feature designed to benefit all Google users. With both AI Overviews and AI Mode, groups of links now automatically appear in a pop‑up window as you hover over them. This means you can jump to the website for any specific source more quickly to double‑check the information in the AI summary.
Just click the links to verify AI’s information
- Open Google Search in your desktop browser and enter a query.
- An AI Overview will appear at or near the top of the regular results.
- At the end of each paragraph or section, you’ll see links. Hover over a link and a small window pops up with a description and a link to the source used to compile the overview.
- Click the link to visit the source’s website, where you can verify the information and read the full story.
Also: I tested Google Docs’ new AI audio summaries, and they’re a massive time‑saver
The same behavior works in AI Mode. Select the “AI Mode” heading at the top, hover over a link in the AI summary, and the pop‑up will show the source for that specific paragraph or section. Click the link to open the source.
“Our testing shows this new UI is more engaging, making it easier to get to great content across the web,” Stein said in his post.
Google had already displayed a list of sources used by Gemini on the right side of the screen. The new pop‑up windows make it easier to see which source contributed to which piece of content, encouraging users to verify original sources rather than rely solely on AI summaries.