Google Is Putting More Links in AI Mode and AI Overviews: What South African Businesses Should Do Now
On 15 October 2026, Google announced that it is showing more links inside AI Mode and AI Overviews, and placing them higher in its AI answers more often. It is also testing a section at the top of some answers that highlights the one or two official websites for a task, adding clickable thumbnails to related links, and expanding news carousels that feature people's Preferred Sources. For South African businesses, the message is simple: the websites Google trusts and understands are the ones most likely to be linked. That makes clear content, accurate business information and a strong reputation more valuable than ever.
I've had a few clients ask whether AI search is "killing" website traffic. This update is a useful reminder that Google still wants to send people to websites. The question is whether your website is one of them, and if it isn't, what can you do to get recommended?
What exactly did Google change?
In a post on Google's official blog titled More ways to connect with the web from Search, Google outlined five changes to its AI experiences:
More inline links, shown higher: Google says it has made substantial increases to the links inside AI Mode and AI Overview answers, and that these links now appear higher in responses more often.
An "official websites" section (test): for some tasks, Google is testing a dedicated area at the top of the answer that surfaces the one or two official pages for that task, with a short note on why each is useful.
Bigger news carousels: carousels of timely articles, which highlight the publications people have chosen as Preferred Sources, are rolling out to more locations and languages.
More clickable related links: links at the end of some answers now show image thumbnails and a more prominent design.
Creator and publisher profiles (test): in AI Mode, Google is testing clickable creator and publisher names on video results, linking to their Search profiles.
Google also said the number of people using Preferred Sources has grown more than seven times since the start of the year, as PPC Land reported.
Does this apply in South Africa?
Partly, and it's not yet clear how much. Google didn't list countries for most of these changes. The news carousel expansion was described as reaching additional locations and languages globally, while the official-website section and creator profiles were described as tests. Some features may reach South Africa later than others, or only in English at first.
My advice: don't wait for confirmation. Everything that helps you earn these links also helps your normal Google rankings and your visibility in tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
What does the "official websites" test mean for local businesses?
This is the change I'd watch most closely. If someone asks Google how to book a service, apply for something or contact a business, Google wants to point them to the official source rather than a directory or a reseller. To be that source, Google needs to be confident your website is the real, authoritative home of your business.
That comes down to consistency and clarity:
Your business name, address and phone number match across your website, Google Business Profile and directories.
Your key tasks are easy to find: booking, quotes, contact, pricing information and service areas each have a clear page.
Your pages say plainly what you do and who you do it for, in words a customer would use.
Your site is technically healthy: fast, secure, mobile-friendly and indexable.
Last time I wrote about Google's new "South African" badge and filter, which rewards the same thing: clear signals about who you are and where you operate.
How can your business earn more links in AI answers?
Google's AI answers link to pages that directly answer the question being asked. Here's what I recommend for South African businesses:
Answer real customer questions on your site. Use headings phrased as questions and give a short, direct answer at the start of each section. Our guide to AI-ready website content shows how.
Publish helpful content consistently. A blog that answers one new question a week builds a library of pages AI can cite. See our SEO content planning guide.
Show you're trustworthy. Real reviews, named people, credentials, physical addresses and clear policies all count. Here's our list of website trust signals.
Use structured data. Organization, LocalBusiness, FAQ and Article schema help Google understand your pages and your business.
Keep your Google Business Profile complete and active. Posts, photos, accurate hours and replies to reviews all reinforce that your business is real and current.
Use AI responsibly. Google's position, which I covered in our post on AI-generated content, is that quality and usefulness matter, not how the content was produced.
Should South African publishers and bloggers ask readers to add them as a Preferred Source?
If you publish regular news or industry updates, yes. Preferred Sources lets users choose the outlets they want to see more often in Top Stories and, increasingly, in AI Mode news carousels. A short, friendly prompt on your site or in your newsletter asking loyal readers to add you can help you show up more often for the people who already like your content.
How do you know if you're being linked in AI answers?
Start with Google Search Console. In September I explained how to use Search Console's new AI report to see whether your pages appear in AI Overviews. Combine that with Google Analytics 4 to see whether visits from Google are holding steady or growing, and check which pages are earning impressions for question-style searches.
What should you not do?
Don't panic-rewrite your whole site, and don't try to "game" AI answers with thin pages stuffed with questions. Google's September 2026 spam update is a reminder that low-value, mass-produced content carries real risk. Steady, genuinely useful improvements win.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google sending less traffic to websites because of AI Mode?
It varies by site and topic. Google's October update increases and raises the links in AI answers, which suggests it wants AI search to keep sending people to websites. Sites with clear, trustworthy, question-answering content are best placed to benefit.
What is the official websites section in Google AI Mode?
It's a test Google announced on 15 October 2026. For some tasks, Google shows the one or two official web pages for that task at the top of an AI answer, with context on why each is useful.
How do I get my website linked in Google AI Overviews?
Answer real customer questions clearly, keep your content accurate and up to date, use structured data, build trust signals such as reviews and credentials, and keep your Google Business Profile consistent with your website.
Are these AI Mode changes live in South Africa?
Google didn't confirm countries for most of the changes, and some are still tests. It's best to prepare now, because the same improvements help regular search and other AI tools.
Want to know if Google's AI can find and trust your business?
At Aquawave Web Designs, we help South African businesses build websites that rank in Google and get cited in AI answers. If you'd like to know where your site stands, get in touch for an SEO and AI search check-up.
