Is Google Always Right? AI Overview Accuracy Questioned

Is Google always right? That’s the question more people are starting to ask, especially now that AI-generated answers appear at the top of search results. These quick summaries, called AI Overviews, promise to save time. But what if they get it wrong?

In fact, some of these summaries have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. From strange health tips to completely false claims, a few have left users confused or concerned.

Google might be fast, but that doesn’t always mean it’s right. So, before you take that top box as fact, it’s worth asking whether Google is always correct. Let’s take a closer look.

Key Takeaways

Google’s AI Overviews show up at the top of search results, but the answers aren’t always right or fully reliable.
Some summaries have made strange claims, like saying it’s healthy to eat rocks or wrongly describing public figures.
Google says the tool is still being tested, and admits that mistakes can happen, even in common searches.
It’s a good idea to double-check the answers, see who wrote the original content, and look at other sources too.
Younger users trust AI Overviews more, while older users are more likely to skip them or ignore them completely.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
What Is an AI Overview?
Can AI Overviews Be Trusted?
How Many People Actually Use AI Overviews?
The Bottom Line
FAQs
References

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
What Is an AI Overview?
Can AI Overviews Be Trusted?

Show Full Guide

How Many People Actually Use AI Overviews?
The Bottom Line
FAQs
References

What Is an AI Overview?

If you’ve searched for something on Google lately and seen a short summary right at the top, that’s likely an AI Overview.

So, what is an AI Overview exactly? It’s a feature that gives you a quick explanation by picking up bits of information from across the web. Instead of only showing links, Google gives you a short paragraph with key details pulled together.

Here’s what you need to know:

Google AI Overview appears at the top of the search results page.
The goal is to help you find information faster, without clicking through multiple pages.

It appears helpful at first glance, but users are starting to ask whether Google is always right when it presents these summaries.

Can AI Overviews Be Trusted?

AI Overviews are designed to help people find answers faster, but that doesn’t always mean the answers are right. So, how accurate is Google when it comes to these summaries?

There have already been a few worrying examples of mistakes made by Google AI Overviews. Some of the most talked-about mistakes so far include:

Telling people that eating rocks is healthy, based on a joke article from The Onion. The AI claimed rocks contain minerals that are good for the body.
Recommending that users add glue to pizza sauce so the cheese sticks better. This idea came from an old comment on Reddit.
Claiming that Barack Obama was a Muslim president, repeating a false story that has been shared in political circles for years.

Does Google lie, or is it just the tool making poor choices? Some of the errors seem so glaring, it’s no surprise people have doubts about its accuracy.

The tool pulls content from different places online, and not all of them are reliable. Instead of sticking to trusted sources, the summaries sometimes include things found on Reddit or in unverified blog posts. So, instead of asking if Google lies, it might be more useful to ask how and why the system got something so wrong.

Even Google admits the tool is far from perfect:

It describes AI Overviews as experimental and a work in progress
It says the summaries “can and will make mistakes”

So, is Google always correct when showing information using this tool? Not at all.

It’s similar to checking Wikipedia: You can get a general idea, but you still need to check the details yourself.

How To Evaluate The Info You Find With Google

When Google shows a quick summary at the top of your search, it can feel like the answer is right there. But even Google says it’s important to look a little closer. So, how accurate is Google when it comes to these responses?

To help users check the information they find, Google suggests a few simple steps:

Look at who wrote it – try to find out if the source is experienced or trustworthy
See what others are saying – compare it with different websites or opinions
Check for fact-checks or info panels – these often appear next to news or health topics

These tips are useful when reading anything online, including AI Overviews. Even if the summary sounds clear and confident, it could be based on old, incorrect, or weak sources.

So, does Google know everything? No. It’s a helpful tool, but it still depends on what’s out there, and not all of it is reliable. This is where your own judgment matters. Taking a few seconds to question what you’re reading can make a big difference.

How Many People Actually Use AI Overviews?

Google’s AI Overviews show up often now, but how many people actually use them?

According to a YouGov survey from May 2025, quite a lot.

62% of US adults say they read or rely on AI Overviews when using Google.

Still, the numbers change depending on age and how comfortable people are with tech.

Here’s what the data shows:

78% of adults aged 18–29 use AI Overviews
75% of those aged 30–44 also read them
Use starts to fall with older groups: among people aged 65 and over, 36% don’t see AI Overviews, and another 21% see them but choose not to read

Younger users seem happy to lean on the summaries, while older users are more cautious or simply skip them.

The Bottom Line

Google’s AI Overviews are quick, but they’re not always accurate. They can be useful for getting a general idea, but mistakes do happen – sometimes serious ones.

So, is Google always right? No. And does Google know everything? Definitely not. That’s why it’s important to double-check facts, look at the sources, and use your own judgment before trusting what you see at the top of the page.