• by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer, Yesterday

Google AI Overview mistakenly described the closing of a business. That’s what happened to a Millbank, Ontario bakery in Canada.

When someone Googled “Anna Mae’s Bakery," AI Overview triggered a summary in error. It said that the Millbank business, just northwest of Kitchener, was officially closing on July 31, reported CBC.ca.

Amanda Herrfort, the owner of Anna Mae’s, discovered this on her way to a wedding, after someone sent her a screenshot of the search result.

Herrfort initially panicked, according to the report, and then she realized Google had mistaken her business for an Illinois bakery with the same name. That Anna Mae’s Bakery is scheduled to close.

And it’s not like no one is paying attention. Last week, Similarweb reported that Google AI Overviews jumped from 15% to 43% of searches in just one year, signaling that AI-powered search has become a mainstream way people discover information online.  

Similarweb noted that what began as an AI layer on top of search has become an important part of the search journey, as Google drops users into AI Overviews, where they can then continue their research via Google’s more conversational AI Mode.

Publishers have not been keen on this change due to a loss in referral traffic based on declining AI citations and zero clicks.

Herrfort appeared shaken, but took steps to disintermediate the mistake by launching an online notice to dispel the rumor.

Customers still emailed, called and walked into the bakery to ask about it. 

Herrfort ultimately fixed the error for her bakery by telling the Google AI search bar to change it without any ads, using social media such as Facebook and word of mouth.

AI Overview has become a widely used search tool, but when connected to ads it becomes stronger.

Adthena reported that AI Overview ad volume jumped 278% quarter-over-quarter. The ad volume nearly quadrupled to 11,098 distinct advertisers, and the top 10 hold just 18% of volume.

Bakeries like Herrfort's do not even serve up as one of the top five domains for AI Overview advertising. Home and services, retail and shopping, education, and automotive are among the top domains.

As Adthena's report notes, marketers cannot buy their way into ad placement. Brands cannot buy their way into organic search, but having the correct information can.

Since the rollout of AI Overview in 2024, the AI has made some substantial errors. For example, the AI engine classified running with scissors as a healthy cardiovascular exercise that improves heart rate and focus.

The AI engine also repeatedly suffered from temporal glitches, such as confidently insisting to users that the current year was still 2024 long after the calendar had advanced.