# What people want from AI search summaries

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/what-people-want-from-ai-search-summaries/
Published: 2026-05-12

> Featured topic in AI & Tech.

About 44% saw AI summaries on every or almost every search in the past week, while 50% would turn them off for at least some searches if Google allowed it.

## Overview: AI search

AI summaries are already familiar in practice. About 44% say they saw an AI-generated summary on every or almost every search in the past week.

But that does not mean users simply want them always on. About 28% would turn them off for some searches, 22% would turn them off for all searches, and 25% are not sure.

## AI summaries are a frequent search layer

About 44% say they saw an AI-generated summary on every or almost every search during the previous week.

Another 17% saw one on about half of searches and 18% saw one on a few searches, leaving 22% who did not see one in the past week.

## Many would use an off switch

If Google allowed users to turn AI summaries off, 25% would keep them on for all searches.

A larger combined group, about 50%, would turn them off for some or all searches.

## Publisher traffic is not top of mind for most

Asked about AI search decreasing traffic to original websites, 53% say they have not thought much about it.

Concern and non-concern are close among the rest: 24% are concerned and 23% are not concerned.

## Supporting evidence

### 44% saw AI summaries on every or almost every search in the past week.

Question: In the past 7 days, about how often did you see an AI‑generated summary (sometimes labeled ‘AI Overview’) at the top of the results for a query on a search engine?

Note: Shows how often adults recently saw AI summaries in search results.

Topline:

- Every or almost every search: 43.9%
- Not in the past week: 21.5%
- A few searches: 17.5%
- About half of my searches: 17.1%

### 50% would turn AI summaries off for some or all searches.

Question: If Google let you turn AI summaries off, would you…

Note: Shows whether adults would keep AI summaries on or turn them off.

Topline:

- Turn them off for some searches: 28.4%
- Not sure: 25.3%
- Keep them on for all searches: 24.6%
- Turn them off for all searches: 21.6%

### 53% have not thought much about AI search reducing traffic to original websites.

Question: Are you concerned, not concerned, or have you not thought much about the impact that AI search results may have in decreasing traffic to original websites?

Note: Adds context on whether adults have thought about publisher traffic effects.

Topline:

- Have not thought much about it: 53.0%
- Concerned about impacts of decreased traffic: 24.2%
- Not concerned about impacts of decreased traffic: 22.8%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-07-30 → 2025-08-04
- Base (unweighted): 1,509
- Margin of error: +/- 3.1%
- Module: AI Adoption Survey July 2025
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [In the past 7 days, about how often did you see an AI‑generated summary (sometimes labeled ‘AI Overview’) at the top of the results for a query on a search engine?](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co): verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co: Shows how often adults recently saw AI summaries in search results.
- [If Google let you turn AI summaries off, would you…](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co): verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co: Shows whether adults would keep AI summaries on or turn them off.
- [Are you concerned, not concerned, or have you not thought much about the impact that AI search results may have in decreasing traffic to original websites?](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co): verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co: Adds context on whether adults have thought about publisher traffic effects.

## Citation

AI Adoption Survey July 2025, fielded July 30-August 4, 2025, N=1,509 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co)