"In March 2025, 900 U.S. adults shared their browsing behavior with the Pew Research Center. Roughly 58% of those adults encountered an AI Overview when searching on Google. Only 8% then clicked a traditional listing. Conversely, 42% of Google searchers received no AI Overview; 15% then clicked on a listing. The immediate impact - 8% vs. 15% - is material and measurable. According to eMarketer, zero-click searches have reduced traffic to many websites by 25% or more."
"Folks stop searching when they receive a (presumably) clear, readable answer. There is no reason to keep looking. The AI answer is satisfying. It's also psychologically "satisficing" - accepting the first answer that meets a minimum criterion rather than optimizing for the best possible. When AI answers are "good enough," why would someone keep searching? The key is whether satisficing will shape future AI shopping, as it now shapes search."
AI-generated search overviews have produced a substantial increase in zero-click search behavior, with Pew data showing 58% of users saw an AI Overview and only 8% clicked a listing. Users who did not see an AI Overview clicked traditional listings at a higher rate. Zero-click trends have already reduced website traffic by 25% or more, creating challenges for ecommerce marketers that may worsen in 2026. Psychological forces like satisficing and reduced cognitive load make AI answers “good enough,” shortening decision journeys and enabling AI agents to recommend and complete purchases that stop further shopper exploration.
Read at Practical Ecommerce
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