Earlier this month, Digital Phablet announced new options for managing how Google’s AI-powered search features—such as AI Mode and AI Overviews—access and utilize your website’s content and links. Recently, they released a comprehensive help document that explains the process in detail, including instructions on how to access the controls, what functions they serve, how long changes take to implement, how settings are inherited across properties, and how users can submit feedback.
This detailed guide wasn’t available at the initial announcement but is now published. It was highlighted by Glenn Gabe on X, emphasizing that the support documentation contains substantial information, such as how child properties inherit settings from parent properties, with the option to override these at the individual property level.
The document clarifies that these controls became active on June 17, 2026, affecting AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Generative AI features within Google Discover. Currently, only UK-based sites support these controls, which can be accessed through the Search Console under specific settings.
There are three primary control options:
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Allow my site’s links and content in Search generative AI features: This default setting permits your site’s content to appear in AI-generated search features, including links and responses that incorporate your content, helping to increase your impressions and traffic.
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Exclude my site’s links and content from Search generative AI features: Selecting this prevents your website’s content from appearing within these AI features, meaning your site won’t receive any traffic or impressions from them. Excluding content also involves understanding what this means in terms of visibility and influence.
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Inherit control from the parent property: If your site is part of a hierarchy, this option causes your property to follow the settings of its parent. Any adjustments made at the parent level automatically apply to your site unless overridden manually. This default is set for properties with parent relationships.
Google clarified that choosing to exclude your site ensures it won’t be shown in AI features, but this setting does not impact your listings’ ranking or overall inclusion in search results. Content removal typically occurs within one to two days after activating the setting, though some delays can happen due to caching and system propagation.
The inheritance structure is particularly detailed: a property defaults to inheriting its AI control setting from its closest parent that has not opted to stop inheritance. If no parent has changed their setting, it inherits from the top-level domain.
Visual aids, including a diagram illustrating parent-child property relationships, help explain how inheritance functions. It’s advisable to review the full help documentation thoroughly, regardless of whether you intend to use these controls.
Screenshots from the Search Console highlight the interface for adjusting these AI controls, making it clearer how to manage settings directly within Google’s tools.