Google’s March 2026 Core Update reinforced something publishers can’t ignore: AI Overviews are changing how visibility and clicks work in search. But the sites performing best still showed the same core strengths: strong authority, fresher content, better reader experience, and deeper trust signals. As Google I/O announcements continue rolling out this week, we’re also watching closely for what’s next in AI-powered search and discovery. We’ll be sharing more insights, data, and implications for publishers as changes unfold.
With Google now publicly reinforcing that "AEO is SEO" - and I/O underway with more AI Search updates expected - it's worth looking at what’s actually happening in the SERPs after Google’s last core update. At Raptive, we analyzed 1M+ keywords across 30 verticals and found AI Overviews (AIO) surged 40-80% on average compared to the start of the year. And while AIO on average drives CTRs down 30-60% per keyword, capturing placements within AIOs is increasingly important to preserve clicks as these experiences continue to expand. We also analyzed winners and losers post-update to identify which factors are actually driving: - Traditional organic performance - AI Overview visibility - Resilience in AI-heavy SERPs A few key takeaways: - AIO is not going away - If you ignore AI Search optimization, it will impact your clicks - Ranking inside AIO matters - especially as Google improves link layouts and clickability - Strong SEO fundamentals remain core to capturing AI visibility Our findings largely align with Google's recent guidance, but we move beyond broad recommendations and break down the measurable factors associated with stronger organic and AI Search performance. The result is a more tactical, data-backed look at what actually appears to matter for both traditional SEO and AI visibility moving forward. Full readout from Raptive in the comments.