The Search Console generative AI performance report now shows how often your pages appear in Google’s AI features. Google says it became available to all websites worldwide as of 31 August 2026, according to Search Engine Journal, though some properties may still not see it.
Most small sites will open it, see a number and not know what to do with it. This guide explains what the report measures, what it leaves out, and a simple routine to use it without drawing the wrong conclusions.
In short
The Search Console generative AI report shows how often your pages appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode, but not how many people click, so use it to track visibility and keep judging traffic elsewhere.
What the generative AI performance report shows
Google's help page for the report says it covers impressions from AI Overviews and AI Mode on Google Search. You can split the data by page, country, device and date, and filter between text searches and multimodal (image-based) searches.
The report leaves out Google Discover AI data, which has its own report, and Search Labs experiments. It also excludes sites that have opted out of generative AI features, and it only appears when your site has enough impressions in those features.
Search Engine Journal adds the key limit: the reports carry no click data as of 31 August 2026. The same article notes that the opt-out control does not affect ranking in standard search.
Why impressions without clicks can mislead you
An AI impression means your page was shown in an AI feature. It does not mean anyone visited. A rising line can sit next to flat traffic, and that is not a bug in your site.
There is a second problem. ALM Corp reports (30 September 2026) that some links inside AI Overview answers now open AI Mode instead of a website, with Peec AI data showing about 26.2% of AI Overviews had such embedded links by 20 September. ALM Corp says the effect on Search Console is unclear, because those taps may be counted as query refinements rather than clicks to your domain.
That means you cannot calculate a click-through rate for AI features from this report. Treat it as a visibility signal, as you would a rankings report, and compare it with real sessions in your analytics.
How to use the Search Console AI report this week
Open the report and note your top five pages by AI impressions. Check whether they are also your top organic landing pages. Pages that appear often in AI features but get few visits are the ones to improve, with a clearer answer in the first paragraph and a reason to click for the detail.
Then record the totals in a spreadsheet on the same day each month. With no click data, a monthly snapshot is the only way to see a trend. Write down beforehand what you would change if impressions fell, so the number leads to an action.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I see the generative AI report in Search Console?
Google's help page says the report appears only for sites with enough impressions in generative AI features. Search Engine Journal also notes that some properties may still lack access after the worldwide announcement.
Does the report include clicks or queries?
No. Search Engine Journal reported on 31 August 2026 that it shows impressions only, split by page, country, date and, in the Search report, device.
Does opting out of AI features hurt my normal rankings?
According to Search Engine Journal, the opt-out control does not affect ranking signals in standard search. It does remove you from the AI surfaces and from this report.
Sources
- Google, "Generative AI performance report (Search) - Search Console Help", accessed October 2026.
- Search Engine Journal, "Google Search Console AI Reports Rolled Out Worldwide", 31 August 2026.
- ALM Corp, "Some Links in Google AI Overviews Open AI Mode Instead (2026)", 30 September 2026.
Related guides in this series
- Google's new AI search toggle: should you opt out?
- Search Console's new multimodal filter, explained
- Measuring your search visibility in 2026, a quick guide
- Google's AI Overviews now auto-expand, here's what to check this week
Want help reading your AI search data?
I can set up a simple monthly SEO and GEO report for your site that separates visibility from real traffic. Get in touch →
Published: October 2026 | Author: Minh Pham | Drafted with AI, fact-checked and edited by Minh Pham
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