Is Google AI Overview Killing SEO? And What You Should Be Doing Instead

You’ve spent hours crafting the perfect blog post. It’s witty, informative, SEO-optimized to the teeth, and you finally land on the first page of Google. Victory, right?

Not so fast.

Because now, sitting right above your carefully crafted link, is Google’s AI-generated summary. Tidy, convenient, and completely bypassing your website. It’s like hosting a dinner party, preparing every dish from scratch… only for guests to read the menu and leave without ever tasting a bite.

So, yeah. Let’s talk about the elephant in the search bar.

What’s Actually Happening?

Google’s new AI Overviews (formerly known as Search Generative Experience) are answering users’ questions directly on the results page. No need to scroll. No need to click. Just a neat little AI-powered answer box that pulls insights from across the web.. including your site, without giving you the traffic credit.

In short:

SEO, as we know it, is changing. Fast.

Is SEO Dead?

Not dead. But maybe... reincarnating?

Traditional SEO, the “rank high and they will come” model, is under serious pressure. Traffic is thinning out. Click-through rates are dropping. And the fight for organic visibility now includes battling Google’s own AI.

So, what now? Throw in the towel? Nah.

What to Do Instead (or, What’s Next)

1. Become Un-Googleable... in a Good Way

If Google’s AI answers basic questions, then don’t be basic. Offer what AI can’t: opinions, personality, real-life case studies, behind-the-scenes stories, or niche community expertise. Make your content so real, so human, it can’t be summarized in three bland sentences.

2. Go Where the People Are (Hint: It’s Not Just Google)

People are discovering content inside platforms now. TikTok is a search engine. So is YouTube. So is Reddit. Want to future-proof your brand? Diversify. Create content where your audience actually hangs out, not just where they search.

3. Build a Brand, Not Just Traffic

Clicks come and go. But a brand? That sticks. Think newsletters, podcasts, communities, DMs, Discords, private memberships, spaces where you own the relationship. Not Google. Not algorithms.

4. Play the AI Game Too

Why let Google have all the fun? Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Claude can help you create smarter, more personalized content at scale. Use AI to build mini chatbots, interactive tools, or hyper-personalized landing pages that drive engagement in a whole new way.

5. The Next Big Thing? Community-Led Growth.

As people become overwhelmed with AI-generated sameness, they’ll crave authentic connection. Brands that build loyal, engaged micro-communities (think niche forums, Slack groups, even invite-only newsletters) will win. And that loyalty? It’s not ranked on any search engine.

Yes, Google AI is changing the game. But maybe it’s also giving us a nudge to create better, deeper, more human connections with our audiences. The truth is, people still crave originality, emotion, and experience. AI can summarize facts, but it can’t replicate you.

So if your SEO traffic dips, don’t panic. Get creative. Get personal. And most of all, get ahead of the curve.