Google’s AI Results Get 9% CTR – Is This the Death of SEO? Think Again!

Google AI results CTR compared to google ads CTR


While many believe AI-powered search results spell doom for SEO, let’s dive into the numbers and challenge that assumption.

Do you know the click-through rates on Google ads that are at the top of the results?

Ad in position 1: 2.1% clicks,
Ad in position 2: 1.4% clicks,
in 3rd position: 1.3% clicks,
in 4th position: 1.2% clicks.

Those ads cost you a lot (!) of money.

On the other hand,
the click-through rates on organic results range from 38% for the #1 result in Google down to 1.6% for the 10th result, with the 2nd and 3rd positions getting 18% and 10% respectively.

A massive difference, right?


Let me summarize it for you

1. SEO is not going to die ❌ ☠

2. It’s best to appear in Google for searches that don’t yield AI results ❌ 🤖

3. If your content is relevant to AI results, make every effort (like talking to me!) to appear in them and then aim to the organic results right after ✔🤖

4. In any case, think carefully about how worthwhile it is for you to spend on PPC ads with click-through rates that barely touch the 10th organic result on the first page of Google… 🤑

about the author

I’m Roni Calvo Bar Oz – an SEO consultant with over 20 years of experience helping B2B companies grow in competitive global markets.

Today, my focus is helping businesses adapt and grow in the AI era through AI-first SEO and GEO strategies – combining technical SEO, content strategy, brand positioning, and AI-driven search visibility.

I’m passionate about understanding how people search & chat, how AI changes discovery, and how businesses can build long-term organic growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Outside of work, I care deeply about thoughtful conversations, asking the right questions, my family, music, and staying present in everyday life.

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