Big news for anyone watching their SEO closely - Google's AI Mode clicks, impressions, and positions are finally showing up in Search Console. If you've been wondering how all those AI-powered search results impact your traffic, you can now see it in your reports.
👉 This update comes as AI Mode rolls out to all U.S. users. It's a shift that every Shopify brand and D2C business should pay attention to.
Let's break down how it works and why it matters for your SEO strategy.
What Counts in AI Mode
Here's the deal, straight from Google's updated documentation:
- Click: If someone clicks an external link in AI Mode, that counts as a click in Search Console.
- Impression: If your page shows up in an AI response, that's an impression.
- Position: Each element inside AI Mode - whether it's a link card, carousel, or image block - gets its own position, just like standard search results.
- Follow-up questions: When a user asks a follow-up, Google treats it as a new query. That means new impressions, clicks, and positions are tracked for that follow-up.
Pretty straightforward - but here's the catch:
You Can't Filter Just AI Mode Data
If you were hoping to slice and dice your Search Console data to look just at AI Mode traffic - unfortunately, no luck. Just like with AI Overviews, Google blends it into your overall totals.
👉 That means your impressions, clicks, and CTR now mix standard search results and AI Mode performance.
For Shopify merchants, this makes it a little trickier to measure how AI search is truly impacting visibility.
What eCommerce Brands Should Do
So how can you stay ahead as AI search keeps evolving?
- ✅ Double down on clarity and authority. AI Mode surfaces content that answers questions cleanly and confidently. Make sure your product pages, FAQs, and blogs deliver that.
- ✅ Use schema markup and structured data. It helps Google's AI understand your content - and makes it more likely to show up in carousels or link cards. Learn more about structured data.
- ✅ Create deeper content that satisfies search intent. AI Mode encourages users to keep asking follow-up questions. You want your content to be the final stop - not just the first click.
💡 Want to see how smart brands are blending content and commerce? Check The Power of Shoppable Video: Transforming E-Commerce Engagement
Why This Update Matters
This change ends the confusion over whether AI Mode traffic was being tracked at all. Now you know - it's in your Search Console numbers.
But as Google search evolves, it's more important than ever to combine solid technical SEO, great content, and smart tracking. That's how you'll stay ahead in this AI-powered landscape.
👉 Thinking of upgrading your SEO toolkit? Don't miss Ecommerce and Shopify AI Tools: The Best of 2025
Final Take
AI Mode is here, and it's part of your traffic story now. The brands that win will be the ones that know how to work with it - not against it.
Focus on creating experiences that both shoppers and AI search want to highlight. That's how you'll stay top of mind - and top of search - in 2025.