Google is expanding its Preferred Sources feature into AI Overviews and AI Mode, the two AI-generated answer formats inside Search. In a blog post, Google Search product manager Duncan Osborn detailed the update alongside two related changes to source surfacing inside AI Search: a new article carousel for developing-topic queries and a "Highly Cited" badge that flags primary reporting on the results page.
Preferred Sources in AI Responses
Preferred Sources is a personalization feature that lets users star specific websites and creators in their Search settings. Until now, the labels surfaced only inside Top Stories on the standard results page. With the expansion, when AI Overviews or AI Mode return source links, those from a user's Preferred Sources list will appear with a "Preferred" badge inside the AI response, using the same labeling Top Stories already applies. Users can manage their selections through the source preferences page in Search personalization settings, and any website that publishes fresh content is eligible to be added.
Google has also published documentation on Search Central that site owners can share with their readers, encouraging them to add the site as a Preferred Source. In March, The Keyword covered the language rollout of Preferred Sources, before today's expansion into AI Search.
Article Carousel on Developing-Topic Queries
The second update introduces a prominent article carousel inside AI responses for queries about developing topics, where Google says users often want to read a recent article rather than rely only on a summary. The carousel surfaces links to recent articles on the subject, and articles from a user's Preferred Sources appear highlighted within it.
A companion firsthand-perspectives carousel, pulling from forums, online discussions, and social media, is "coming soon" for queries where users are looking for personal experiences rather than reporting.
"Highly Cited" Badge on Web Articles
The third update adds a "Highly Cited" badge to web article links on the search results page, flagging articles that other stories reference frequently. Google is also indicating when an article explicitly references a Highly Cited source, surfacing the chain of attribution. The label is designed to help users identify the primary reporting other articles are citing.
Recap
What is Google changing about Preferred Sources?
Google is bringing Preferred Sources, its personalization feature, into AI Overviews and AI Mode. When the AI returns source links, those from a user's Preferred Sources list will appear with a "Preferred" badge inside the response. Alongside the change, Google is adding a prominent article carousel for developing-topic queries and a "Highly Cited" badge for web article links.
How do users set their Preferred Sources?
Users set their Preferred Sources by visiting source preferences in Search personalization settings and selecting the sites or creators they want to see more of. Any website that publishes fresh content is eligible. Once set, those sources are labeled "Preferred" wherever they appear in Top Stories, AI Overviews, or AI Mode.
What is the "Highly Cited" badge in Google Search?
The "Highly Cited" badge is a new label that appears on web article links in search results, flagging articles that many other stories have referenced. Google also indicates when an article explicitly cites a Highly Cited source, helping users follow the chain of attribution back to the primary reporting.
