While AI based Search features continue to move forward, Google recently addressed concerns raised SEO LLMs AI Overviews by web publishers, marketers and SEOs. The firm further noted standard SEO best practices are suitable for AI Overviews ranking and that there are no plans to introduce an “LLMS.txt” file as a mechanism for publishers to manage AI crawler access.
This gives content creators a straightforward understanding of how they can continue to be found in the shifting world of search, without needing a fundamental rethinking of their SEO model or having to manage new exclusion.
Let’s take a look at what this reflects for website owners, the implications for the future of search and what you do not need to concern yourself with.
What Are Google’s AI Overviews?
AI Overviews, a feature that was previously included as part of Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), are AI-generated synopses that appear at the top of relevant search results on select queries. It compile information from multiple places on the web to produce a brief written AI response and display links to the pages from which it pulled information.
It has raised a number of questions from the SEO and publishing community, many of which point to a variety of issues, including:
How and why content is included in AI Overviews
If this traffic is superseding traffic from a traditional listing
If the need exists to include new controls for users to opt in or opt out of becoming a part of the AI Overviews
The Core Update: SEO Still Matters
Google has reiterated numerous times that there is nothing you need to do to be included in the AI Overviews. Content that ranks on traditional organic search uses the same factors that help content to be included in AI generated responses.
If you are watching for the want of a new approach to SEO, then stop and remember the core principles about being included in the Google search results: relevance of topic, authority on the topic, usability/indexability of your content.
“If your content is valuable to users and it correlates with search queries, you will be a prime candidate for AI Overviews.” – Google Search Team.
This clarifies the notion that AI, and AI-based search, is an independent ranking system. AI is merely another layer that uses the same index and rank signals from the traditional search results to surface information in the content.
LLMS.txt? No.
When AI-generated summaries began to spread further, a new type of protocol for webmasters emerged, suggesting that one way to keep an AI’s use of your content for its AI Overviews was through some sort of LLMS.txt (due to their similarity to robots.txt, which webmasters can use to control search bots) not be used by AI Overviews.
But Google suggested that this was unnecessary.
“There is no separate protocol like LLMS.txt. Content available for Google Search qualifies for consideration to be displayed in AI overviews.”
“We’re not using a separate protocol like LLMS.txt. Content that can be found through Google Search is eligible to appear in AI Overviews.”
This means if your site allows crawling and indexing through robots.txt, and your pages appear in regular search, they qualify to be summarized by AI. Again, there is not a granular opt-out just for AI Overviews – yet.
What Does This Mean for Publishers
✅ No New files or Tags Needed
There is no need to add any new meta tags, headers, or LLMS.txt files to your site. Google is not creating a new protocol to control access for AI tools specifically.
✅ Continue to Value Quality, Relevancy and UX
If your content currently ranks well, as in traditional search, SEO LLMs AI Overviews then you are likely doing something that makes sense. Continue being laser focused on:
- Answering user questions as clearly as possible
- Providing original, valuable insights
- Saving time with fast load speeds and usability
- Optimizing with E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Google has stressed that AI Overviews always pull from familiar, trusted, high-quality sources. So, content produced in line with standard SEO best practices stands a fair chance at being found.
❌ Stop Worrying About LLMS.txt
With no plans to use LLMS.txt, and since Google has no way to block LLMS.txt from anyone using it, it’s probably not worth all the chatter and speculation about it signal to noise. In other words, I’m not swaying from LLMS.txt being not part of any search (provider) infrastructure, current or in any future plans.
❌”You CAN NOT Opt-Out of just AI Overviews.”
At this point, if your content is accessible and shows in Google Search results, it may be used in AI Overviews. Opting out of being included in AI Overviews, the only way to do this as of now is to block Google Search entirely using robots.txt or noindex.
For most of us, it’s not ideal to block Google Search entirely as you block all organic search visibility and only block AI Overviews.
Takeaways
- AI Overviews rank using the same ranking signals as traditional search.
- We do not need a new exclusion file like LLMS.txt.
- If your content has good visibility in Google Search it can also be utilized in AI Overviews.
- Currently, there is no way to block AI Overview without blocking Google Search entirely.
In a nutshell: DO NOT CHANGE YOUR SEO PLAYBOOK. Google is not moving to a new model, they are simply layering AI over the existing search infrastructure.
Busting the LLMS.txt Myth
As worries increased about SEO LLMs AI Overviews scraping content and using it, some SEOs speculated that a new control file, LLMS.txt (which stands for “Large Language Model System”), might become available to allow site owners to restrict AI usage of their content.
However, Google made it clear:
“There is no LLMS.txt, and no plans to build any other exclusion protocol for AI Overviews.”
What does that mean for you?
❌ You do not need to create or manage any new exclusion files.
✅ You only need to manage access with robots.txt, just as you would for any other crawler.
If your site can be indexed by Google Search, then your content could appear in AI Overviews.
What to Prioritize for Success in AI Overviews
While there isn’t a distinct way to optimize for AI Overviews, Google has made it clear that the same signals that matter for traditional search matter here.
Here are 7 areas to focus on:
1. Create Helpful, People First Content
Google’s Helpful Content System determines whether your content is able to meet real human needs. If your content is useful, provides clear answers to questions asked, and provides real insights, it has a chance to appear in SEO LLMs AI Overviews.
2. Use Clear, Structured Formatting
AI models are better able to parse content if structured properly. Use headings (
etc.), bullet points and lists, short paragraphs and FAQ formats, etc. Structuring your content makes it much easier for AI systems and people to understand your content.
3. Boost E-E-A-T
Google is focused on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Pages that typically have strong E-E-A-T signals are more likely to appear in AI Overviews.
Tip: Add author bios, link to credible, authoritative sources, document a clear editorial process, etc.
4. Depth of Topical Relevance
You should cover your niche comprehensively. Google’s AI tends to favour sites that demonstrates topical authority; build topic clusters or content hubs that are comprehensive around your core topics.
5. Optimize for Page Speed and Mobile-Friendliness
Fast and mobile-friendly websites are crawlable and indexable more quickly. These factors can also affect ranking—both traditional search and AI Overviews.
6. Use Schema Markup (Where Appropriate)
While it’s not related to AI Overviews schema markup is essentially just a better way for Google to determine what your content is about. Always use the appropriate structured data for items like FAQ, recipe, product and article.
7. Don’t Spam the Web with Thin or AI Content
Websites stuffed with low-quality AI content will be penalized and/or ignored. AI Overviews are oriented towards real sources not content farms.
Final Thoughts
One thing is clear from Google’s message: don’t panic, and do what works with Highxbrand India .
An AI Overview isn’t a new game with new rules. It’s an extension of what Google has always tried to do: provide relevant and helpful information to users. If you have an SEO strategy based on this goal, you’re in good shape.
And as for LLMS.txt. You can officially put that on the “don’t need to do” list.
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