If you’ve used Google lately, you may have noticed something different at the top of your search results. For years, featured snippets, those small boxes that give you quick answers, were considered the ultimate spot. Websites fought hard to win that space because it meant higher visibility and more clicks.
But now, Google has introduced something new: AI Overviews. Instead of a short answer from one website, you get a longer, AI-generated explanation that feels like a mini article. This change has left many people asking the big question:
Is the featured snippet dead?
Let’s check what’s happening, why it matters, and what it means for the future of search.
What Are Featured Snippets in SEO?
Let’s rewind for a moment. Imagine searching on Google for something simple like:
- “Who invented the telephone?”
- “What year was the first iPhone released?”
At the top of the search results, Google would show you a small box with a short answer:
- “Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.”
- “The first iPhone was released in 2007.”
That little box is called a featured snippet.
Google introduced it to save users time. Instead of scrolling through multiple websites, you could get the answer instantly.
For users, this was incredibly convenient. For websites, it was like winning a golden ticket. If your site was chosen for the snippet, you suddenly had:
- More visibility than your competitors.
- Higher authority and credibility
- A better chance of attracting clicks from curious readers who wanted to learn more.
The Benefits of Featured Snippets
Why were snippets so powerful? Here are a few reasons:
- Quick answers: You didn’t need to open a website to get basic facts.
- Trust and credibility: Being selected by Google made a site look reliable.
- Traffic boost: Many users clicked on the snippet source to read the full explanation.
- Better user experience: Students, casual readers, and busy professionals all loved snippets because they saved time.
The Demerits of Featured Snippets
But snippets weren’t perfect. They had some issues too:
- Lost clicks for websites: Sometimes, people got the answer and didn’t bother clicking.
- Oversimplification: Complex topics were reduced to a single sentence, which could feel incomplete.
- Only one winner: Only one website got the spot, while others were left behind.
- Accuracy issues: Occasionally, Google picked the wrong source or outdated information.
Despite these problems, featured snippets were still the king of quick answers—until now.
Google AI Overviews Explained
Recently, Google rolled out something new: AI Overviews.
Instead of a single short answer, Google’s AI now creates a longer explanation by combining information from multiple websites.
Imagine searching for: “What’s the best breakfast?”
Instead of one snippet, you might see something like:
“A healthy breakfast includes protein, whole grains, and fruits. Examples are oatmeal with berries, eggs with toast, or smoothies with spinach and banana.”
Below that, Google lists several sources used to build the AI’s answer.
This is a major shift because it changes how search results are presented.
AI Overviews vs Featured Snippets: Key Differences
Let’s compare the two:
Featured Snippets:
- Pull a short quote from one website.
- Usually one sentence, a definition, or a short list.
- Spotlight on one source.
AI Overviews:
- Create a new answer by combining multiple sources.
- Can be several paragraphs long.
- Share references from multiple sites, but the main “voice” is AI.
Impact of AI Overviews on SEO & Website Traffic
This shift changes the game for users, website owners, and digital marketers.
For Users
AI Overviews can feel like a dream come true. You get a detailed, ready-made answer without clicking through multiple websites. It saves time and gives context, not just quick facts.
For Website Owners
It’s more complicated. Since AI provides a full answer up front, users may not click on the original websites at all. That means fewer visitors, less engagement, and potentially less revenue.
Advantage of AI Overviews
- Complete answers in one place: No need to open 5 tabs
- Saves time: Great for people in a hurry.
- Combines perspectives: Pulls from different trusted sources.
- Feels conversational: Reads more like a blog or article.
Disadvantage of AI Overviews
- Fewer clicks for websites: Why visit the source if AI already explained everything?
- Smaller blogs get buried: If your site isn’t picked as a reference, you may be invisible
- Risk of errors: AI can sometimes generate wrong or “made-up” info.
- Loss of visibility: Writers and publishers fear losing their audience.
Are Featured Snippets Still Worth It?
Not quite.
Featured snippets still exist, but they don’t appear as often for complex searches. Instead, AI Overviews are taking over those spots.
Here’s the current trend:
- For simple, factual questions → Featured snippets are still shown. Example: “Who was the first person to walk on the moon?”
- For complex or “how-to” questions → AI Overviews dominate. Example: “Best exercises for back pain relief” or “How do I start a podcast on a budget?”
So, featured snippets aren’t gone, they’re just less important than before. They’re becoming side characters while AI Overviews take the lead.
What This Means for the Future of Search
Google is shifting from being a search engine (a place to find links) to being an answer engine (a place to get full answers instantly).
That’s a huge change. It means the way people interact with the internet is evolving.
For website owners and marketers, the message is clear: adapt or be left behind.
To stay visible in this new world, websites need to:
- Create authoritative, trustworthy content.
- Structure content clearly with headings and FAQs.
- Use plain language and cover topics deeply, so AI systems will use them as references.
- Focus on building brand authority beyond just Google.
Will Websites Become Less Important?
This is the big question. If Google keeps giving full answers directly in search results, will people still need to visit websites at all?
The answer is both yes and no.
- For quick facts, many users will stay on Google.
- For in-depth research, products, or unique insights, people will still need to visit original websites.
So while traffic patterns may change, good websites will always have value. The key is creating content that AI alone cannot replace: personal stories, unique data, expert opinions, and creative ideas.
Conclusion: The Future of Search & SEO
So, is the featured snippet dead?
No, but it’s no longer the main star.
Featured snippets will remain useful for fast, factual questions. But for complex, detailed searches, AI Overviews are the future.
This change shows us one thing: search is evolving. Google wants to be more than an index of links. It wants to become the internet’s main storyteller.
For users, this means faster, richer answers. For websites, it means a new challenge: adapting to stay relevant in an AI-driven search world.
