Google's AI Search Results Get Tracking Parameters in Test

Google has been testing adding tracking parameters to link URLs within AI Overviews and AI Mode in its search results. This feature would allow users to track clicks from AI-generated content versus regular search results, providing more transparency into how their online interactions are being tracked.

The test involves appending a parameter '?st_source=ai_overview' to the end of links in AI Overviews and AI Mode. This was first spotted by Tom Pool, who posted about it on LinkedIn.

However, Google has since clarified that this is not their initiative, but rather a browser extension called Chrome Browser Extension that is modifying URLs to include these parameters. The extension presumably does this to sell the data to brokers.