single-source — confirmation pending
Google's AI opt-out setting may cost publishers Top Stories placement
An analysis by NewzDash founder John Shehata, reported by Search Engine Journal, finds Google now places Top Stories carousels inside AI Overviews on roughly 15.5% of U.S. and 17.5% of U.K. news searches — meaning publishers who use Google’s Search Console AI opt-out to exclude their content from AI Overviews may also lose Top Stories carousel placement. Shehata calls the link high-confidence but says it isn’t yet confirmed by Google.
Why it matters: Google's opt-out control now conflates two once-separate surfaces, raising the real cost of resisting AI Overviews for news publishers.
The record: Google AI OverviewsGoogleGoogle Search Console
Posted to the wire July 28, 2026.