Google has expanded its robots meta tag documentation to include controls for its new AI Mode feature, which is currently available in Search Labs. The update provides website owners with methods to manage how their content appears in Google's AI-powered features.
Documentation Updates
The revised documentation now explicitly addresses how webmasters can control content visibility across Google's expanding AI capabilities, including AI Overviews and the experimental AI Mode.
Key additions to the documentation include:
Nosnippet Rule Expansion
The nosnippet directive has been broadened in its application. According to the updated documentation, this directive:
"Applies to all forms of search results (at Google: web search, Google Images, Discover, AI Overviews, AI Mode) and will also prevent the content from being used as a direct input for AI Overviews and AI Mode."
Max-snippet Controls
The max-snippet rule has also been clarified to specify that limitations apply to:
"All forms of search results (such as Google web search, Google Images, Discover, Assistant, AI Overviews, AI Mode) and will also limit how much of the content may be used as a direct input for AI Overviews and AI Mode."
AI Mode represents Google's latest experimental search feature, initially being rolled out exclusively to Google One AI Premium subscribers. The technology is powered by a specialized version of Gemini 2.0 to deliver a completely AI-driven search experience.
This documentation update reflects Google's ongoing efforts to give publishers greater control over how their content is used in increasingly sophisticated AI-powered search features.
