# Search generative AI control

> Since August 31, 2026, any site can use a Search Console setting to leave AI Overviews, AI Mode and Discover's generative AI features. Google states it is not a ranking or inclusion signal for the rest of Search and does not affect AI training. Exclusion takes effect within a few days.

- URL: https://geo.casa/ai-search/search-generative-ai-control/
- Reference · Officially documented
- Reviewed: 2026-10-26

## Opting out of AI Overviews and AI Mode

> **Officially documented:**
> The Search generative AI control manages a site's inclusion in AI Overviews, AI Mode and generative AI features in Google Discover. Google states it rolled out to all websites worldwide as of August 31, 2026. It is under **Settings › Search generative AI** in Search Console.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Console Help: Search generative AI control - Search Console Help](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/16908024)

Choices:

| Choice | Effect |
|---|---|
| Include (default) | Content can appear as links and help ground AI responses. The site can receive impressions and traffic |
| Exclude | Not linked or used to ground responses; no traffic or impressions from these features |
| Inherit from parent | Follows the parent property's setting (default for child properties) |

## What excluding does and does not do

> **Officially documented:**
> If you exclude your site, its links and content won't appear in these features. Content crawled from it can't be used as input to generate an AI response or preview. Google states the control "isn't used as a ranking or inclusion signal affecting other parts of Search". It does not affect AI training (use Google-Extended) and is not a way to leave Search entirely (use noindex). Content from other sites may still appear similar to yours.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Console Help: Search generative AI control - Search Console Help](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/16908024)

> **Officially documented:**
> Changes generally take a few days. Content is excluded within 1–2 days after the control goes live, though some may take longer because of caching.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Console Help: Search generative AI control - Search Console Help](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/16908024)

## Compared with the other controls

| Control | Scope | Classic results |
|---|---|---|
| This control | Whole property, AI features only | Unaffected |
| `nosnippet`, `max-snippet`, `data-nosnippet` ([Snippet controls for AI Overviews and AI Mode](https://geo.casa/crawling-indexing/snippet-controls/)) | Per page or element, all result types | Snippets removed or shortened too |
| `noindex` | Per page | Page removed from Search |
| Google-Extended ([Google-Extended](https://geo.casa/crawling-indexing/google-extended/)) | AI training and Gemini grounding | Unaffected |

## Documentation gap

> **Officially documented:**
> At the last review, Google's developer page on AI features still listed only robots.txt rules for Googlebot and the `nosnippet`, `data-nosnippet`, `max-snippet` and `noindex` controls, without mentioning this setting.
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: AI features and your website](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features)

> **Officially documented:**
> Since October 21, 2026, Google's developer page "Control what you share with Google Search" lists the control as applicable site-wide. It reads: "You can manage your site's inclusion in generative AI features on Google Search, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, by using the Search generative AI control in Search Console."
>
> Sources: [Google Search Central: Control what you share with Google Search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/control-what-you-share)

The full description is in Search Console Help. Where Google's pages differ, this wiki reports both.

## Sources

- [Google Search Console Help: Search generative AI control - Search Console Help](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/16908024)
- [Google Search Central: Latest Google Search documentation updates](https://developers.google.com/search/updates)
- [Google Search Central: AI features and your website](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features)
- [Google Search Central: Control what you share with Google Search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/control-what-you-share)