This week in search I covered, yep, heated Google search ranking volatility kicking in the middle of this week. Google updated its spam policies to say it also applies to Google's AI responses in Search. Google Discover...
https://www.seroundtable.com/video-05-15-2026-41328.html

Google's John Mueller said, "The indexing API is inundated by bloggers trying to act like legitimate sites." This means that Google needs to be more careful about who and what they accept through the Google indexing API.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-indexing-api-inundated-by-blogg...

Google is testing showing a new icon in the autocomplete search suggestions, as you type your search. The icon has a magnifying glass with the Gemini logo on it. It suggests a longer query, a prompt, and when you click it, it takes you to?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-autocomplete-ai-overview-icon-4...

Google updated the leading paragraph in the search spam policies to clarify that the policies apply to the Google Search AI responses, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode (or whatever else is AI-generated). Google said, "the Google Search spam?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-spam-policies-apply-ai-response...

Google Ads is testing a new "Create video" beta feature that has the Gemini logo next to it. So this feature uses Gemini, Google's AI, to create the video for you for your Demand Gen campaigns.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-create-video-41321.html

Google is now showing directly hotel booking links directly inside the AI-generated responses within AI Mode. This can lead to sending hotels direct traffic in the AI response, which seems like a win to me.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-direct-hotel-booking-li...

Google announced that GA4, Google Analytics, has a new AI Assistant traffic measurement. This allows you to track AI chatbot traffic, like from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. This is through a new AI Assistant channel in your Default Channel?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-analytics-ai-assistant-traffic-...

Google is expanding its vehicle ads to support more vehicles in the United States. Specifically, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), RV's Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs), and non-motorized trailers, such as travel trailers and campers are now support?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-vehicle-ads-atvs-41322.html

Google has released version 24.1 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with dozens of updates. This update includes features like mobile device platform segment, classic images in DemandGen, support for passkeys, revamped support o?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-version-24-1-41323.html

Google had yet another Search Console reporting bug, this time with the Discover performance report. Between May 7, 2026 and May 8, 2026, Google confirmed a data logging issue that can result in the report showing fewer clicks and impressi?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-performance-report-mis...

Google posted a tease for Google Marketing Live where Google Ads will be announcing new dashboards powered by Gemini. Google wrote on X, "Tired of manual reporting? Introducing Dashboards built with Gemini capabilities."
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-dashboards-41314.html

Google at some point added a section to this Google Ads document explaining that because of all the new Google AI search features, like Lens, AI Mode, AI Overviews, or auto-complete searches - the search terms report now may show keywords t?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-search-terms-report-best-us...

A new study from Ahrefs says that adding schema does not and did not boost citations on any of the AI platforms including Google (AI Overviews or AI Mode), ChatGPT and others. "Adding schema produced no major uplift in citations on any pla?
https://www.seroundtable.com/study-schema-citations-study-41311.html

Google is testing a new AI assistant in Google Merchant Center named Merchant Advisor. I assume it is similar to Google Ads Advisor and something that Google might announce at Google Marketing Live next week.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-advisor-41319.html

Google is testing updating the Google Discover publisher pages by adding custom links, featured posts, larger header images and sharper logos. I assume this would be managed by claiming your page?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-publisher-pages-links-...

Two months ago, Google rolled out Google Merchant Center For Agencies in the US and Canada after beta testing it in October 2025. Now, Google has released Google Merchant Center for Agencies globally, everywhere.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-center-for-agencies-gl...

Google is testing displaying the URL of the search result snippet where the https portion is a dark gray and the domain name portion is a light gray. It is a weird test, but hey, Google is always testing...
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-dark-light-urls-41301.html

Did you know that Bing Webmaster Tools treats http and https as the same property, it does not distinguish between http and https? This is different from Google Search Console, which lets you set up a property for each and every variation.
https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-webmaster-tools-http-and-https-41...

Google posted an update to its Google Ads certification process for several cryptocurrencies and complex speculative financial products.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-certification-cryptocurrenc...

Google announced on Friday that Google Search, as of May 7th, no longer shows FAQ rich results within the Google Search results. Google will also drop reporting on it within Google Search Console and the respective APIs in the future.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-drops-faq-rich-results-41298.html

Google Ads has posted new help documentation on site visits assets, which we covered as tests numerous times - the label that says how many people visited the site. Well, now there is official documentation for it and we know they are offi?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-site-visits-assets-docs-412...

Google now allows you to run vehicle ads in your Standard Shopping campaigns. Previously, this was only available in Performance Max for Vehicle ads only, according to PPC News Feed.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-vehicle-ads-standard-shopping-c...

Google has updated its Google Merchant Center landing page requirements help documentation to expand and offer more options for out-of-stock products. Google wants you to "ensure your landing page clearly displays product availability for o?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-center-more-out-of-sto...

Google may be integrating Google Tag Manager directly into the Google Ads interface. The integration of Tag Manager also comes with a new interface and user experience.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-tag-manager-to-google-ads-41296...

This week in search we covered more heated Google ranking volatility this morning, it seems big - so stay tuned. We also covered how Google spoke about how they try to isolate their AI systems because...
https://www.seroundtable.com/video-05-08-2026-41290.html

Many of the third-party tracking tools, not all, but many, are showing some heated volatility this morning around Google Search's ranking positions. I am also seeing some early chatter within the SEO industry about movement in their rankin?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heate...

Google Ads announced it is expanding both Smart Bidding Exploration and budget pacing. Smart Bidding Exploration beta for Performance Max with product feeds and Shopping campaigns will launch in few weeks and budget pacing in Search and Sho?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-smart-bidding-exploration-b...

Google proposed a number of changes to the EU in order to avoid fines from the European Union. One of those changes is around the site reputation abuse policy, which the EU watchdog said directly impacts a common and legitimate way for pub?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-site-reputation-abuse-policy-eu...

Google AdSense (and Ad Manager) will drop the browser back button trigger for vignette ads additional triggers due to the new Google search penalty for back button hijacking. Google AdSense will drop it on June 15, 2026, the day the search?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-adsense-back-button-trigger-gon...

Google sent out emails to advertisers that starting July 15, 2026 the Google Ads system will require the use of passkeys for certain sensitive actions. This is likely due to the spike in Google Ads hijacks over the past year or so.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-passkey-sensitive-actions-4...

Microsoft Advertising custom columns now support all conversion metrics - instead of just specific conversion metrics. This gives advertisers more flexibility on tracking campaign performance.
https://www.seroundtable.com/microsoft-ads-custom-columns-conversio...

Google announced five new ways in how it is improving linking to web pages from AI Mode and AI Overviews. Some of these we saw Google testing earlier, and I (we) were fans of these changes and I am glad to see Google officially roll them ou?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-improves-links-ai-mode-ai-overv...

The folks over at Microsoft Bing put together a blog post explaining the differences between indexing for Search versus indexing for Grounding (AI responses) and the differences. Krishna Madhavan, Knut Risvik, Meenaz Merchant from Microsoft?
https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-search-indexing-vs-grounding-inde...

Google will be bringing content and titles related exclusions to the account level to Google Ads AI Max later this year. It will give you the ability to always exclude any other content you don't want to use in your ads at the account level?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-ai-max-content-titles-exclu...

It is 2026 and finally Bing Places for Business is finally mobile friendly. Microsoft Bing sent me an email letting me know of this update, saying, "We're excited to share that Bing Places for Business now offers a mobile-responsive experie?
https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-places-for-business-mobile-friend...

Google sent out emails notifying applicable advertisers that they will default call recording to Yes, to always record calls, if you don't pick an option yourself. Google wrote, "Starting July 01, 2026, if you haven't made a selection for?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-call-recording-default-yes-...

Google is showing the full author name and the source, like LinkedIn - and name or Medium - and name, for the citations. It makes sense for these social platforms to show the name, because anyone can write anything on these platforms, so k?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-overviews-with-author-names-...

Google is testing an update to the citations, anchor links, and favicons within the AI Mode results. This new experience seems to make the citations more clickable because the embedded links have larger favicons and seem to appear more oft?
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-anchor-links-favicon-ai-mode-41...

In February, Google announced that UCP, Universal Commerce Protocol, powered checkout is available in AI Mode. Well, now you can use UCP powered checkout in the main search results for some retailers like Wayfair.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-expands-ucp-checkout-to-search-...

Google is testing letting searchers select the Gemini 3 model they want to use directly in the Google Search bar. The options can include, Pro, Fast or Auto, from what I can see.
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-gemini-3-model-options-search-4...