Context
A peer-reviewed SIGIR 2026 laboratory eye-tracking study examined attention to generative summaries placed above conventional search links.
What changed
The study adds direct behavioral evidence: generative content drew more engagement, while users continued to attend to blue links and the familiar top-left attention pattern.
Why it matters
Citation or impression counts do not reveal whether users attend to an AI answer, scroll to organic links, or visit cited pages.
Visibility OS interpretation
AI visibility measurement should separate on-screen exposure, gaze and interaction from downstream clicks; lab results are not universal Google Search CTR estimates.
What remains uncertain
Do these laboratory attention patterns persist across devices, intents and evolving commercial interfaces? What share of attention converts into visits?