Google releases documentation for AI search controls

Image credit: Abondance

Google released comprehensive documentation for new controls within Search Console on June 17, 2026, allowing websites to manage their content’s visibility within generative artificial intelligence features of Google Search.

The new controls, initially available only to websites based in the United Kingdom, empower webmasters to determine how their content appears in search functionalities like AI Overviews, according to the company.

Webmasters are provided with three distinct options for content management: ‘Include’, ‘Exclude’, and ‘Inherit’ from a parent property.

The ‘Include’ setting is the default option, meaning content will be eligible for inclusion in generative AI features unless otherwise specified.

Opting to ‘Exclude’ content prevents its appearance in generative AI features, but Google clarified that this setting does not impact the content’s ranking in classic search results.

The ‘Inherit’ option allows child properties to adopt the settings configured for their nearest parent property. If no parent property has manually configured settings, the root domain’s configuration will apply.

Industry analyst Glenn Gabe noted that the release of detailed documentation provides webmasters with clarity on managing their presence within Google’s generative AI capabilities.

Google stated that the new controls aim to offer site owners greater autonomy over how their intellectual property is utilized within advanced search experiences.

The company indicated that the initial rollout in the United Kingdom would serve as a pilot phase for the new content management system.

Source: Abondance