You can now see Google’s full AI answer to certain searches the moment the results load, without clicking a "Show more" button. For some queries, Google automatically expands the AI Overview at the top of the results page, giving a complete summary up front. The tradeoff is layout: the familiar list of website links moves much farther down the page, so reaching those links takes more scrolling.
What changed in the results layout?
Previously, a search that triggered an AI Overview showed only the opening part of the AI response, followed by a "Show more" button you could click to read the rest. With the auto-expanding behavior, that step disappears for some queries. Google displays a full AI Overview at the top of the page, an "Ask anything" box directly beneath it, and then the standard list of links below that.
Because the complete AI answer and the follow-up box sit above the organic results, the links that used to appear near the top are pushed down. For anyone who scrolls to blue links first, that means a longer trip down the page.
Which searches trigger the auto-expanding overview?
Google’s exact criteria are not public, and the behavior is inconsistent. In testing, the auto-expanding AI Overview appeared on most searches at some points and then reverted to the shorter version with a "Show more" button at others. The query that most reliably produced the full expansion was "what is the best game on switch 2," and even that did not trigger it every time or across every browser.
Google frames the feature as selective rather than universal. According to a company statement, "For some queries, AI Overviews may dynamically expand for topics where our systems determine it’s most useful for people." Google says its research shows that with this dynamic experience, people find Search more helpful and engage deeper in follow-up exploration.
Does the page expand while you are reading?
No. Google says the expansion is designed not to interrupt reading. If a user has already begun scrolling to view content below the AI Overview, Google cancels the expansion so the reader does not lose their reading position. The full-answer layout applies when the page loads and the system decides the topic warrants it, not mid-scroll.
What it means for finding links
The practical effect is that traditional search results carry less of the top of the page for the affected queries. A full AI Overview plus an "Ask anything" box occupies the space above the link list, so the ten blue links people are used to scanning start lower. For readers who prefer to click through to sources, the change adds scrolling; for those who want a direct answer, the summary is available immediately without an extra tap.
FAQ
What is an auto-expanding AI Overview on Google?
It is a version of Google’s AI search summary that opens in full automatically at the top of the results page for some queries, instead of showing only the first part with a "Show more" button to click.
Why are the regular search links lower on the page now?
When the AI Overview expands automatically, Google places the full AI answer and an "Ask anything" box above the results, which pushes the standard list of links farther down and requires more scrolling to reach them.
Does every search get the expanded AI Overview?
No. Google says overviews may dynamically expand only for topics where its systems determine it is most useful, and the behavior has been inconsistent across searches and browsers.
This article summarizes reporting from theverge.com. See our editorial disclaimer for how our articles are produced.
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