Sources and citations in AI Mode

Before AI Mode answers a question, it searches the site's news for it and reads up to six of the best-matching articles. The answer cites them with small numbers, and the Sources box under the answer lists every article it read, so you can open each one and check.

#The parts

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5

• The heading says how many articles the answer cited and how many it read, for example 6 cited, 6 read from the site's News. An article can be read but not cited when it did not fit the question.
• Each source shows its number, the outlet, how long ago it was published and its headline. Select it to open the article in a new tab.
• The sources are in the order the answer first cites them, so number 4 can come before number 3. Four are shown at first; Show 1 more (or however many there are) reveals the rest.
• When you point at a number in the text, or at a source, both light up together.

#How the numbers work

A number such as 1 right after a sentence means "this is what article 1 says". Two numbers together, 1 4, mean both articles support the sentence. Numbers apply only to their own answer: in a follow-up, number 1 is the first source of that answer.

A sentence with no number comes from the model's general knowledge. That can be perfectly right, but it is the part to check most carefully.

#Check an answer in three steps

#When an answer has no sources

Some answers come without a Sources box:

• Small talk such as "thanks" or "hello" is not searched.
• Nothing found: when the search finds no articles, the answer relies on the model's own knowledge and may say it could be out of date. (When it finds articles that do not fit, the box lists them as read, with none cited.)
• The search failed for a moment: the answer still comes, without sources. Ask again, or rephrase, to get sourced answers.

#When the sources do not have the answer

If the articles an answer read do not hold what you asked, the answer can end with Not in these sources? and a news search that is likely to find it, such as "Microsoft EPS consensus estimate". It appears only after the site has checked that the search finds articles. Select it to have the same question answered again from that search; it counts as a message, like Regenerate.

#Company figures from Finance

On sites with Finance, when you ask about a listed company's earnings, estimates or stock, the answer also reads that company's figures from its Finance page: earnings per share against the analysts' estimates for the last four quarters, the date of the next report and call, and the current estimates. The answer says when a number comes from 4Search Finance and can link the company's quote page. These figures are not real-time and can be a day or so behind.

#Common questions

Where do the sources come from?

From the site's own news index: the same articles you see on the News tab. The column beside the chat shows the same search.

Why are only six articles read?

Each answer reads the best few matches so that it stays focused and quick. Of a long article it reads the opening and the passages that best match your question, such as the paragraph with the figures. To see more coverage, open the results column or News on this.

Can I ask AI Mode for more sources?

You can ask it to list sources or name the outlets, but it only knows the articles it read for that message. To read more, run the search on the News tab.

Does the AI Overview have sources too?

No. The overview is a short summary without citations. Use AI Mode when you want to see what an answer is based on.