Google AI opt-out toggle in Google Search Console has been active since June this year, and users have diverse opinions about its use and impact.
Although some are considering it a freedom to regulate their content, while others perceive it as a lost opportunity to get cited on AI features.
But one thing is sure: opting out of it can cost you top story viability.
Here’s how.
What Is The Google AI Opt-Out Toggle?
Google released a document titled “Search generative AI control,” providing clear details of the AI Opt-Out Toggle.
It says Google has now provided discretion to users to opt out of their content from the Google feature, namely:
- AI Overviews
- AI Mode
- Generative AI features in Google Discover
This provides 3 options to the users:
- Include the site in AI generative features
- Exclude the site from generative AI features
- Inherit control from parent, i.e., following the instructions made at the parent level.
This exclusion process will take around 1-2 days in normal cases and more than that in some cases due to caching and propagation across Google systems.
The document precisely says it has no impact on the search rankings.
Also, the rest of the services the user is enjoying will continue, such as Merchant Centre or Google Ads services.
Suggested Read: What Can SEOs Learn From Google’s 15.7 Million AI Mode Citation Study?
The Consequences of Google AI Opt-Out
Google has rolled out Top Stories Carousel in AI Overviews in limited areas and is expected to get a worldwide release soon.
A much broader view of this news was covered by Newsdash, which confirmed the top stories carousel appearing in the AI overview in the US and UK.
It also revealed that the frequency of appearance of the carousel in AI overviews is 15.5% in the U.S. and 17.46% in the U.K., but no information about the study, such as sample size, time period, etc., was disclosed.
The same report has inferred that the top stories carousel will appear either embedded in the AI overview or separately below it on the search page. It won’t appear at both places at the same time.
Also, it explicitly concluded that:
“Top Stories inside AI Overviews moves publisher links into a more prominent position within the AI result.”
Besides, Google’s statement claiming AI features send billions of clicks every week also hints at a good opportunity for users.
This comes from the statement made by Nick Fox, Senior Vice President of Knowledge & Information at Google, in a LinkedIn post on 17th July 2026.
It was also validated by Liz Reid, VP, Head of Google Search, in her blog.
Both these facets provide an ideal opportunity to reap the potential of AI overviews.
And opting out of Google’s AI features might cost you a lot.
The Digital Marketer’s Opinion
John Shehata, CEO and founder of NewzDash and a renowned SEO expert, has said that top stories are appearing in 1 out of 6 queries in the US.
He also differentiated between the Google Extended and Google AI opt-out in simple words in another LinkedIn post.
Another interesting perspective was expressed by Tina Clarke, AI SEO Manager at ZeroClick Labs, who provided a key concern about the Google AI opt-out toggle in her blog. She stated that opting out of the Google generative AI feature will pass the citations and clicks to your competitors.
Tina suggested staying in AI search and getting citations as a strategic move.
Final Words
Google AI opt-out toggle was released a month ago and has triggered varied opinions. Although it has provided users with more control over their content, it might hamper users’ access to valuable information and can also reduce the reach of brands, especially after the global rollout of top stories corousels.
Here, the best advice is to make a decision considering the long-term impacts.
Next Read: Google AI Content Study Ahrefs: Impact of AI Content on Rankings
