Quick definition
AI Overviews compress the answer to a query into a short generated summary with a few cited sources, displayed above the standard organic results.
Why they matter
Most users do not scroll past the Overview. Inclusion as a cited source is therefore frequently more valuable than a top-3 organic position for the same query.
How to monitor them
Monitoring AI Overviews means tracking whether they appear, which sources are cited, which brands are named inside the body, and how that shifts over time and by query.