Google AI Overviews also cite content outside the top 10 search results

Content that doesn't make it onto page 1 of search results can still be cited in Google Search's AI answers, known as AI Overviews. AI Overviews now show up on Google in Korea, too. Based on an Informa TechTarget white paper reported by Korean marketing outlet MADTimes, and the Ahrefs study it includes, here's what has changed.

Do pages outside the top 10 get cited in AI Overviews?

Yes. According to the Ahrefs study in the Informa TechTarget white paper, the share of pages cited by AI Overviews that ranked in the top 10 search results was 76% in 2025 and 38% in 2026.

Put another way, 62% of the sources cited in AI Overviews this year were pages outside the top 10. Even if you don't make page 1 of search, your content can still appear in AI answers.

What should you watch besides search rankings?

You should check whether your expertise shows up in other media and communities too. The white paper says that rather than focusing only on search rankings, your expertise should be visible in other media and communities, because the sources AI draws on aren't limited to top-ranking pages.

In covering the white paper, MADTimes explains that generative AI has stepped into the process where consumers used to browse search results and websites themselves. The article describes what has become important for brands amid this shift as "traces of trust."

Which site do AI Overviews cite most?

YouTube. In the Ahrefs study, the site most frequently cited by AI Overviews was YouTube. Ahrefs recommended including YouTube in your AI search strategy.

That's good news for creators who make videos, since videos posted on YouTube can become sources for AI answers regardless of search rankings. Following Ahrefs' advice, brand managers can also make their YouTube channel part of their search plan.

What happens if you don't put out enough information?

AI may describe you based on what other people have written. If you don't put out enough information yourself, AI may draw on competitors' descriptions, old press releases, or online community posts to explain who you are.

That's why you need to keep publishing information that describes your channel or brand in your own words. Whatever gap you leave, other sources will fill.

What should you check first?

Start by asking an AI about your channel by name. Check how it describes you and whether that description matches your actual channel.

The white paper also recommends continually monitoring how AI describes your brand. Rather than checking once and stopping, it's better to ask again from time to time and see whether anything has changed.

Key takeaways

• Even if you don't make page 1 of search, your content can be cited in Google AI Overviews.
• Don't look at search rankings alone; make sure your expertise is visible in other media and communities too.
• YouTube is the site AI Overviews cite most, so include YouTube in your AI search strategy.
• Ask an AI about your channel by name and keep checking how it describes you.