Google's Senior Search Analyst John Mueller confirmed on September 15, 2025, that recent claims about testing a specific AI Overview filter in Google Search Console were false. According to Mueller, the screenshot and announcement that circulated on social media were fabricated, with no such filter currently existing in Search Console.

The misinformation originated from a post by Adrian Coutin, who holds Platinum Product Expert status in Google Search Console Help forums. Coutin claimed on September 15, 2025, that "Google has integrated data for AI-generated search features directly into Search Console's Performance reports." The announcement included what appeared to be documentation showing a new "Search Appearance" filter specifically for AI Overview data.

Multiple industry professionals immediately questioned the authenticity of the claims. John Mueller stated in his response that "there's no filter like this in Search Console, and the screenshot itself is fake." Mueller explained that AI Overview features are tracked within the general Web bucket alongside many other Search features, which are not broken out separately.

The false announcement gained significant traction across social media platforms before being debunked. SEO consultant Gagan Ghotra initially shared the news with enthusiasm, posting that the feature was "FINALLY HAPPENING" and recommending others check the full announcement. However, Ghotra later updated his position after pressing Coutin for...

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