Google AI search controls: what each official page says
Google has three relevant pages. They were written at different times and do not describe the same controls. This page lines them up. Read on 2026-10-15.
Last updated 2026-10-15
Short answer
For Google Search AI features there are now two separate things to look at: a Search Console setting that includes or excludes a property from Search generative AI features, and the older crawl and preview controls (robots.txt for Googlebot, nosnippet, max-snippet, noindex). The Search Console setting is documented on a help page that says it was rolled out to all websites worldwide as of August 31, 2026.
What the Search Console control page says
- It manages a site's inclusion in AI Overviews, AI Mode and generative AI features in Google Discover, and says the list may be updated over time.
- Three choices: include (the default for all properties), exclude, or inherit from the parent property (the default when a property has a parent).
- Excluding means links and content are not visible in those features and not used to ground AI responses there, and the site receives no impressions or traffic from them. Content from other sites can still appear and may look similar.
- It says the control is not a ranking or inclusion signal for other parts of Search, and does not affect AI training. For training it points to Google-Extended, and for removal from Search entirely it points to noindex.
- Timing: the page says content is excluded within 1-2 days after the control goes live, some content may take longer, and that it generally takes a few days overall.
Source: Search generative AI control (Search Console Help).
What the Search Central page says
- It says there are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, and that a page must be indexed and eligible to be shown in Google Search with a snippet.
- It says AI is built into Search, so robots.txt directives for Googlebot are the control for crawling, and nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet or noindex limit what is shown.
- It says sites appearing in AI features are included in the Performance report under the Web search type.
Source: AI features and your website (Google Search Central). When we read it, this page did not mention the Search Console control above.
What the performance report page says
- A separate generative AI performance report shows impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode, by page, date, device and country. It says it rolled out to all websites worldwide as of August 31, 2026.
- It may not appear if a site has not received enough impressions, if the site is excluded, or if the property has not yet been given access.
- Search Labs experiments are not included.
Where the pages differ
| Question | Search Console control page | Search Central AI features page |
|---|---|---|
| How do I keep my site out of AI features? | Choose Exclude in Search generative AI settings. | Does not mention that setting; names robots.txt for Googlebot and snippet or noindex controls. |
| Where do I measure AI impressions? | Generative AI performance report. | Performance report, Web search type. |
| Does it affect AI training? | No. Use Google-Extended. | Points to Google-Extended for training and grounding in other systems. |
Conditions and unknowns
- We have not checked any particular property. Whether you see the setting or the report depends on your Search Console access and rollout.
- The pages do not say how long the two descriptions will both stay on Google's site.
- Nothing here says what causes a site to be shown or linked. Google states there is no guarantee of crawling, indexing or serving.
Review by date: this page should be checked again if Google updates any of the three pages. Last read 2026-10-15.