Google Preferred Sources goes global and into AI Mode
Readers can tell Google which news sites they want to see more often. The feature now works in every language and influences AI features too.
Preferred Sources lets Google users star the news sites they want to see more often in Top Stories. On April 30, 2026 Google announced it is available in every language where Google Search works.
What happened
Google later extended the feature to AI Overviews and AI Mode, so news from a user’s preferred sources can also appear there. Reports disagree on the exact date of that expansion. Preferred sources also show up more often in Discover.
Google said people had selected more than 200,000 unique sites. One later report put the number at about 255,000. The ranking algorithm itself does not change. Preferred Sources is a per-user layer on top.
What it means for you
- Ask your readers. Google provides a button and a link that take users straight to the setting for your site. A loyal audience now has a direct way to keep you visible.
- It’s audience development, not classic SEO. The effect applies only to users who chose you.
- Strong brand signals help everywhere. A consistent name, logo and Organization schema make it easier for both users and AI systems to recognise your site.
Check your brand data with the AI Entity Checker.