Abstract
As search engines (SEs) increasingly integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), concerns grow about reduced website traffic and shifts in the online content economy. For instance, Google's AI Overviews summarize search query information, raising fears about its impact on click-through rates, a key revenue source for many online businesses and content creators. This study examined how AI-generated summaries in SEs affect user engagement and experience. Participants completed tasks on AI-assisted and non-AI-assisted SE interfaces, while user clicks, visual attention, cognitive load, and perceived satisfaction, relevance, and purchase intention were measured. Results showed no significant differences in user engagement or website traffic, though visual attention increased for AI-generated summaries. Thus, AI may not reduce engagement but could impact user experience, warranting further research on the long-term effects of AI in SEs.
Recommended Citation
Rolon-merette, Thadde; Yuzan Guo, Eugene; Poivré, Fabien; Benbousta, Mehdi; Amoros, Sylvain; Karran, Alexander J.; Coursaris, Constantinos K.; Senecal, Sylvain; and Leger, Pierre-Majorique, "Generative AI Summaries Do Not Increase User Engagement: A Study of Google AI Overviews" (2025). SIGHCI 2024 Proceedings. 29.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/sighci2024/29
