Google has confirmed a bug impacting citations in AI Overviews.

Barry Schwartz reported that source links were missing in some AI-generated results, turning the experience into a black box for users and publishers.

This matters more than it seems: citations are the bridge between AI answers and the open web.

Without attribution, AI search risks becoming a closed system.

Source: Search Engine Roundtable
Tweet: Barry Schwartz on X

FAQ 

What was the AI Overview citation bug?

A bug caused citations and source links to disappear in some AI Overviews.

Why are citations important?

They provide transparency, accountability, and traffic back to publishers.

Is Google fixing it?

Yes — Google confirmed it was a bug and is working on a fix.