AI Overview statistics in 2026
Reviewed 2026-07-06. The figures that are actually sourced, each with its exact scope, and the ones that are not.
The reliable AI Overview statistics in 2026 are about click-through rate, and they are all scoped, not blanket. Ahrefs measured a 58% drop in clicks to the top organic result for informational, desktop queries. Pew found people click a result on 8% of AI-summary searches versus 15% without. Most of the impact lands on informational, non-branded queries.
| Figure | Source | Date | Exact scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| -34.5% | Ahrefs (original) | Apr 2025 | Position 1, informational intent, desktop, Mar 2024 vs Mar 2025 |
| -58.0% | Ahrefs (update) | Feb 2026 | Position 1, informational intent, desktop, Dec 2023 vs Dec 2025 |
| -15.49% | Amsive | Apr 2025 | 10,000 ranking keywords that trigger AIOs; -19.98% non-branded, +18.68% branded |
| -46.2% to -65.2% | Seer Interactive | Nov 2025 | Informational queries year over year: -46.2% no AIO, -49.4% AIO and cited, -65.2% AIO not cited |
| ~-59% | Sistrix | Feb 2026 | Position 1, Germany only, 27% down to 11% |
| 8% vs 15% | Pew Research | Jul 2025 | Clicked a result with an AI summary vs without; only 1% clicked a link inside the summary |
Why there is no single "AI Overviews cut CTR by X%" number
Every trustworthy figure is tied to a position, an intent and a device. Ahrefs' headline -58% is position 1, informational intent, desktop only, not a whole-SERP average, even though it is usually repeated as one. Its decay softens down the page: about -50.8% at position 2, -46.4% at position 3, -32.6% at position 5 and -19.4% at position 10. The CTR-by-position estimator applies this decay so you can see it against your own volume and rank.
Zero-click searches
AI Overviews push more searches to end without a click. Pew Research found a click on 8% of searches with an AI summary versus 15% without, and only 1% of visitors clicked a link inside the summary itself. Similarweb has reported roughly 68% zero-click overall and 83% for AI-Overview-triggering searches, a related but distinct metric from CTR decline; we flag it because its exact publication date could not be pinned down.
Branded queries are the exception
The damage is not uniform. Amsive found branded-query CTR rose about 18.68% while non-branded fell about 19.98%. Because roughly 99% of the keywords that trigger an AI Overview are informational in intent, per Ahrefs' scoping, the losses concentrate on informational, non-branded content, and strong brands can even gain.
Numbers to leave out
Two figures circulate without a traceable primary source and should be avoided: a blanket -70%, which conflates a real Seer average-position statistic with an unrelated Authoritas citation-volatility number, and a -79% that could not be located on Authoritas' own site. Some widely-quoted AI Overview coverage and referral growth percentages also lack consistent primary sourcing; where a figure cannot be traced, this page leaves it out rather than repeat it.
Common questions
How much do AI Overviews reduce organic clicks?
The best-scoped figure is Ahrefs: a 34.5% drop in 2025, revised to 58% in February 2026, for position 1, informational intent, desktop only. Amsive measured a smaller 15.49% average drop across ranking keywords. There is no reliable single blanket number.
Do AI Overviews cause zero-click searches?
They increase them. Pew Research found people clicked a result on 8% of searches that showed an AI summary versus 15% without one, and only 1% clicked a link inside the summary. Similarweb has reported roughly 68% zero-click overall and 83% for AI-Overview-triggering searches, though its exact publication date could not be confirmed.
Are branded searches affected the same way?
No. Amsive found branded-query CTR actually rose about 18.68% while non-branded fell about 19.98%. The negative impact is concentrated on informational, non-branded queries, which is also where AI Overviews appear most.
Which AI Overview statistics should I not trust?
A blanket 70% or 79% CTR drop, both of which lack any traceable primary source, and any claim that AI Overviews cut CTR by a fixed percentage everywhere. The reliable figures are all scoped to a position and an intent, usually informational and desktop.