Why Your Website Needs to Think: Embracing AI Overviews and AI Mode
Web browsing is no longer a linear journey through menus and links. Today's users expect instant, context-aware answers the moment they ask a question. Google's AI Overviews and its experimental AI Mode are accelerating that shift, and they're changing how we must design every website.
"We're moving from a click-based web to a conversation-based web." Rand Fishkin, SparkToro
The Shift: Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode
Google now offers two distinct AI-driven search experiences:
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AI Overviews surface concise summaries at the top of search results. They appeared in 13.14% of U.S. desktop queries by March 2025, up from 6.49% in January 2025. Semrush's study of over 200,000 keywords found that zero-click rates for those queries dipped slightly from 38.1% to 36.2% once AI Overviews rolled out.
"AI Overviews deliver answers that keep users on the search page, redefining how brands capture attention." Google Search Product Manager
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AI Mode is a chat-style side panel that tackles complex queries directly. Usage rose from 0.25% of U.S. desktop sessions at launch to just over 1% by July 2025, and in 92–94% of those sessions, users did not click through to any external result.
Together, these tools satisfy users with immediate answers and drive a fundamental change in click behavior.
Why Traditional Navigation Falls Short
Most websites still depend on menus, links and endless scrolling. That design assumes visitors:
- Know exactly what they want
- Are willing to navigate several pages
- Have the time to read long passages
In reality, many people now treat content like a conversation: they ask once, get a summary, and decide whether to dive deeper. Static pages and rigid hierarchies introduce friction, lost time, diverted attention and higher bounce rates.
"Zero-click searches now account for almost half of all informational queries." Semrush, March 2025 Study
The AI Summary Overlay: A Practical Bridge
On leantonio.me, I've added an AI summary overlay to every page. Instead of hunting through menus, visitors are greeted with:
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Instant Summaries A concise synthesis of key takeaways and practical insights, generated the moment the page loads.
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Contextual Chat An in-page chat prompt that remembers what's already been summarised and answers follow-up questions on demand.
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Seamless Performance File-based caching (with content-hash validation and seven-day expiry), a mobile-first UI, and Google Gemini 2.5 Flash for reliable accuracy.
This layer transforms static pages into an interactive knowledge experience, reducing friction without requiring a complete redesign.
Why Recruitment and Brand Sites Should Act
Whether you manage a careers portal, product showcase or corporate blog, your audience now expects:
- Clear, instant answers
- Minimal effort to find relevant information
- A conversational, personalised experience
An AI summary overlay delivers these benefits on top of your existing site and surfaces real user questions, data you can't capture with clicks and pageviews alone.
A Transitional Solution for the AI-Driven Web
This overlay isn't the final form of web interaction, but it's a vital first step. Most organisations aren't ready to rebuild from scratch around generative models. Yet they can:
- Layer intelligence onto current pages
- Track real-time user intent and interests
- Introduce conversational UX elements at their own pace
By adopting an AI summary overlay today, you position your site for a near future where dynamic, context-driven interfaces replace static navigation.
A Glimpse Beyond: The Digital Twin
Alongside the summary overlay, I've created a context-aware digital twin of myself and this site. It draws on every article, project and reflection I've published. Visitors can engage with a version of me that understands both the content and my background, illustrating how personalised AI can deepen engagement in meaningful ways.
This lightweight layer can boost engagement, reduce bounce rates and prepare your digital presence for the evolving expectations of AI-powered search.
Next Steps
If you'd like to explore how an AI summary overlay could transform your site, whether in recruitment, branding or product marketing, let's set up a pilot. This lightweight layer can boost engagement, reduce bounce rates and prepare your digital presence for the evolving expectations of AI-powered search.
Give your audience the intelligence they seek, today.