Google is testing a new feature in Discover called “Dive Deeper.” It is designed to help people explore a topic further and find related content without immediately visiting a publisher’s website.
The test could change the way users discover and visit publisher content through Google Discover. While Google says the feature is designed to make it easier to explore a topic and find related web content, publishers may have concerns about whether users will still click through to individual articles.
Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, said: "We're experimenting with a new way to make exploring a topic and discovering related web content easier in Discover. We'll test this experience on videos to start, and experiment with multiple designs in the weeks ahead."
What happens when you tap "Dive deeper"
When someone taps “Dive deeper” in Discover, Google can show a short AI-generated summary of the topic. Below the summary, users can find links to related stories, community comments, and original reporting.
For now, it is best to look at “Dive deeper” as an experiment. Google has not announced it as a permanent change to Discover or confirmed that it will change how traffic is distributed to publishers.
Why Publishers are Watching Closely
Discover has been an important source of traffic for many publishers.
A user sees an interesting story, taps it, and lands on the publisher's website. From there, that visitor might read another article, subscribe to a newsletter, sign up for a service, or even become a customer. Dive deeper puts one more layer between the Discover feed and that website visit.
And here is where I think the interesting part begins.
If Google's AI summary gives someone enough information to understand the topic, some users may simply stop there. That is the main concern surrounding the test.
The feature could also give publishers another way to get their content in front of users through related stories and original reporting. How much traffic this brings will likely depend on how Google develops the feature and which stories it decides to surface.
Discover isn't Just a Feed Anymore
This test also doesn't exist in isolation.
In September 2025, Google launched the option of following certain publishers and creators and added more types of content to be used in Discover, such as social media posts and videos.
Google also made some changes in terms of customizable options in Search, Discover, and Google News for users to have more control over the type of content they would like to see. Now we have “Dive deeper.” Put all of that together and Discover is starting to look less like a simple feed of links. It is becoming more of a content exploration experience.
And that could make Discover traffic harder for publishers to predict. Getting an article into Discover is one thing. Getting the user to leave Discover and actually visit your website is another.
That distinction may become more important.
Where this leaves SEO
This is probably the part I find most interesting.
Traditional SEO has always been focused on getting a page to rank and getting the user onto your website. SEO is still the foundation for helping search engines understand and surface your content. Google's newer search experiences are changing that.AI Overviews, AI Mode, and now experiments like “Dive deeper” are giving Google more ways to answer or explore a topic before the user reaches a website.
And Google has also been adding links and pathways back to original content within its AI experiences. However, the message to publishers remains unchanged: monitor how these features surface your content and stay relevant.
For SEO, I don't think the basics are changing here. Google needs to understand what your content is about and whether it provides something useful to the reader. Original reporting, first-hand experience, and useful information can also give people a reason to click through and read the full story on your website.