Gemini moved from 11.0 to 9.7 distinct cited domains per response across a stable prompt set.
Distinct cited domains per Gemini response
Average distinct domains
Gemini’s answers drew from a narrower source set
Starting August 11, 2026, the average number of distinct domains in a cited Gemini response fell from 11.0 to 9.7. The lower level held for at least three consecutive days after a 24-day baseline.
The change does not mean that citations disappeared. It means that a typical cited answer drew evidence from a less diverse set of domains during the observed period.
Fewer domains make each source position more consequential
When an answer draws from fewer domains, each included source occupies a larger share of the available evidence. Losing one citation pathway can matter more, while a source that remains visible may exert more influence over the facts and framing carried into the answer.
A plausible Gemini mechanism
Google describes AI answers as capable of issuing related searches and assembling supporting pages across those subtopics. One plausible explanation for this narrowing is that the query expansion or evidence-selection stage began concentrating on a smaller set of high-confidence domains, perhaps after a retrieval or ranking update.