Google Launches AI Performance Reports and Blocking Controls in Search Console
Google has officially announced the rollout of new tools within Google Search Console designed to provide publishers with greater transparency and control over how their content interacts with generative AI features. This update includes the introduction of ‘AI Performance Reports’ and new site-level controls that allow website owners to opt out of having their content displayed within AI-driven search experiences.
New Insights: AI Performance Reports
Search Console is now gaining an AI performance reporting section, which aims to demystify how websites appear within generative AI components, such as AI Overviews. While publishers have long sought to understand the impact of AI on their traffic, Google has clarified that these reports will currently exclude ‘click’ data.
Key metrics available in the new report include:
- Impressions: Data on how frequently your URLs appear within generative AI features.
- Pages: Granular detail on which specific URLs are being surfaced by AI models.
- Countries and Devices: Insights into the geographic and technical breakdown of your AI-driven visibility.
- Temporal Trends: Monitoring performance with hourly, daily, and monthly views.
This data is being populated for activities beginning May 18, 2026. While some users may be disappointed by the lack of click data, a Google spokesperson noted that the company is actively working with site owners to determine which insights are most valuable for future development.
Strategic Control: AI Blocking Toggles
Beyond analytics, Google is introducing a significant opt-out mechanism. Selected site owners will now have a toggle to prevent their content from appearing in AI features like AI Overviews or AI-driven Discover modules.
Crucially, Google has provided assurances regarding the impact of these choices:
- No Ranking Penalty: Opting out of AI features will not act as a negative ranking signal for traditional search results.
- Total Opt-Out: Sites that choose to block their content from these AI features will cease to receive both traffic and impression data from those specific generative AI interfaces.
Why the UK First?
The rollout is currently limited to a small subset of site owners in the United Kingdom. This specific focus stems from the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has required Google to offer publishers more control over how their content is utilized for AI ‘fine-tuning’ and presentation. This move is part of a broader regulatory effort to ensure a fairer ecosystem for publishers in the age of generative search.
Google has noted that while the controls are currently in a testing phase, they are slated to become fully active for the initial test group on June 17, 2026, with a global expansion expected in the near future.