Links back to source websites returned to Google’s AI Mode within a day after Gemini 3.8 Flash briefly stopped showing them. Google confirmed the missing citations were a bug rather than a design change, and rolled out a fix on the morning of September 4, 2026, the day after the problem surfaced. For any business that counts on AI Mode to send readers to its pages, the citation behavior that drives that traffic is back.
What happened
According to Search Engine Roundtable, Google rolled out Gemini 3.8 Flash to AI Mode subscribers, and early reports showed the model returning answers with far fewer links and citations than previous models. Examples shared on X showed top-of-the-funnel queries in AI Mode producing no source links at all, while the default model still cited sources for the same queries. Google’s Robby Stein responded on X on September 4, 2026: "This isn’t working as intended, and we’ll roll out a fix soon." The following morning the issue was resolved and the model was providing links again.
Are you affected?
The problem affected AI Mode while it was running Gemini 3.8 Flash, during the short window between the rollout and the fix. The businesses most exposed are those that rely on AI Mode answers to cite and link their pages and send readers to those pages. To check your own exposure, run the top-of-the-funnel questions your customers ask inside AI Mode and look at whether the answer includes links or citations to source pages. Robby Stein said the missing links were not intended, and Search Engine Roundtable reported the model was citing sources again the morning after the report. Google has not published a list of which queries or accounts saw the reduced citations.
What to do now
- Open AI Mode and run the questions customers ask about your product or service, then check whether the answer links to your pages.
- If links look missing, note that Robby Stein said the drop in citations was a bug and that the fix rolled out the next morning, per Search Engine Roundtable.
- Re-check over the next few days, since model fixes can reach accounts at different times.
- Keep the pages you want cited accessible and directly answering those questions, so they stay eligible to be surfaced.
Why source links in AI Mode matter for your visibility
Citations and links are how AI Mode points readers to the pages behind an answer. When a model cites and links sources, the businesses behind those pages can be seen and clicked through. When it stops, that path narrows, even if the underlying content has not changed. This episode shows that citation behavior can shift with a single model change and move back just as fast, which makes it worth watching rather than assuming it is fixed in place. How a business appears to AI search is what BizScoreAI scores, showing what a listing looks like to the engines people ask.
FAQ
What was wrong with Gemini 3.8 Flash in Google AI Mode?
For a short period after it rolled out to AI Mode subscribers, Gemini 3.8 Flash returned answers with far fewer links and citations than previous models, and some top-of-the-funnel queries showed none at all. Google’s Robby Stein said this was not working as intended.
Did Google fix the missing citations?
Yes. Robby Stein said on X that a fix would roll out soon, and Search Engine Roundtable reported the model was providing links again the following morning. Google described the missing citations as a bug.
Why do AI Mode citations matter for a business?
Citations and links in AI Mode point readers to the source pages behind an answer. When a model cites and links sources, readers can click through to the businesses behind those pages. When it stops, source pages become unreachable for readers.
Related coverage
- Google AI Mode vs AI Overviews: Study Reveals Divergent Search Behavior – BizScoreAI
- Google’s Frozen v2 Chip Aims to Make Gemini More Efficient
- Google Delays Gemini 3.5 Pro Launch as Coding Benchmarks Fall Short – BizScoreAI
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