How to Use Google AI Mode Link Updates in Oct 2026

Google updated AI Mode and AI Overviews on October 15, 2026. The changes put more links in front of you so you can leave the AI summary and read the original sources faster.

Preferred Sources usage has grown more than 7x since the start of the year. These updates build on that by surfacing the sites you already chose more clearly.

This guide shows exactly what changed and how to use the new displays today.

What Google Changed on October 15

Hema Budaraju, VP of Product Management for Search, outlined five updates in the official Google blog post.

First, inline links now appear more often and higher in the response. These are the blue links embedded inside sentences of the AI answer. They let you click the exact source while you are still reading.

Second, Google is testing a dedicated section at the top of some answers. It shows one or two official pages when a task has a clear destination, such as a government form or product page. Each link includes a short note explaining why it is useful.

Third, news carousels for timely topics are expanding to more countries and languages. The carousels also highlight your Preferred Sources.

Fourth, the “Dive Deeper” links at the end of some responses now use image thumbnails and a more clickable layout.

Fifth, video results in AI Mode are testing clickable creator and publisher names. Tapping a name opens the Google Search profile for that creator before you visit their site.

These features roll out gradually. You may see some of them on your next search and others over the following weeks.

How to Set Preferred Sources for Better Results

Preferred Sources is the foundation of several of these updates. Once you select sites, Google shows more of their content in Top Stories, carousels, and AI answers.

On desktop or mobile:

1. Sign in to your Google account.
2. Open Google Search and look for a Top Stories module on a news-related query.
3. Click or tap the star or folder icon next to “Top Stories.”
4. Search for a site name or paste its homepage URL.
5. Check the box and reload results.

You can also go directly to Search personalization settings from your profile picture and open Source preferences.

Preferences sync across devices. Publishers can add a button on their own sites using Google’s official snippet so readers add them in one click. See our guide on adding the Google Preferred Sources button for the exact code.

After you set a few sources, run the same query again. You should notice more articles from those sites in the carousel and higher inline links.

Using the New Link Displays in Practice

Open Google and switch to AI Mode or simply search a topic that triggers an AI Overview. Look for these patterns:

• Inline links higher in the text. Click them immediately if the sentence cites a specific fact or guide.
• A short block at the very top labeled with context such as “Official page” or “Complete this task here.”
• A horizontal carousel of recent articles when the query is time-sensitive. Your Preferred Sources appear first or with a badge.
• Thumbnail cards at the bottom labeled “Dive Deeper” or similar. These lead to longer related pieces.
• On video-heavy results, creator names you can tap to see their Search profile.

If you do not see the new layouts yet, try a different query or check again in a few days. Google tests these displays before full rollout.

Tips to Get More Value From the Updates

Choose Preferred Sources that match the topics you search most. A mix of local news, specialist blogs, and official sites works better than only large outlets.

When you see an official-page block, read the short context note before clicking. It often tells you whether the page is the form, the policy, or the documentation you need.

For research tasks, open the inline links in new tabs as you read. This keeps the AI summary as a map while you collect the original pages.

If you publish content, encourage readers to add your site as a Preferred Source. The 7x growth shows people are already doing this, and the new carousels reward it.

Check AI Mode on both mobile and desktop. The thumbnail Dive Deeper section and video creator links appear more often on larger screens so far.

Watch the Announcement Breakdown

Barry Schwartz covers the October 15 link changes along with other Search updates in this weekly roundup. The relevant segment starts around the 3-minute mark.

Conclusion

The October 2026 AI Mode and AI Overviews updates make it easier to leave the summary and read the sources that matter to you. Inline links sit higher, official pages get a dedicated top slot, and Preferred Sources appear more prominently in news carousels.

Set your Preferred Sources today, then run a few test searches. You will see the difference immediately on queries that trigger AI answers. These changes continue Google’s effort to keep people connected to the open web while still using generative summaries.

Sources

• Google blog: More ways to connect with the web from Search (October 15, 2026)
• Google Search Central: Preferred Sources documentation
• Search Engine Roundtable coverage of the same announcement