#google-search

#google-search

Google is testing prefilling the search bar in a new Chrome tab, with teasers to encourage you to search deeper with AI Mode. Google is putting in the search box, "Research a topic," "Write something new," "Ask Google," and "Make a plan." Glenn Gabe spotted this change and posted on X saying, "Noticed this morning that Google had an animation of text running in the Google search bar in Chrome (in a new tab).

Google's Nick Fox said standard licensing deals for publishers are not coming, and that optimizing for AI search is the same as optimizing for traditional search. Google warns not to use JavaScript for noindex tag. Google Ads exact match is not eligible to show ads in AI Overviews. Google Search Console average impressions are going back down. Google Search Console performance report is back up to date but not the page indexing report. Google search results gain read more links.

Myth. Google Search has changed dramatically. Ten blue links have morphed into search engine results pages (SERP) with zero-click features such as AI Overviews, knowledge panels, and a tab to AI Mode. But SEO is alive - and you need this expertise in your newsroom to help you navigate. An SEO may tell you that users search Google to " Know, Do, Go," that users perform:

Google is testing integrating Search Live (Gemini Live - voice search as you talk) in AI Mode. Plus, this version shows citation cards as part of the answer, as you are having a conversational search with AI Mode. Sachin Patel spotted this and posted about it on X - in his screenshot, at the bottom right, you can see the Search Live button. When you click that button, Search Live is activated, and you can start talking to AI Mode for follow-up questions,

Google Search rankings are volatile again and heating up. Plus, the Search Console performance report and page indexing reports are still delayed. Google Ads now supports WhatsApp support notifications. Google Discover added summarize, follow up, and dive deeper with AI Mode links. Microsoft is testing a new search bar with advanced tools.

Google is now showing the "What to know" section within web search, not just AI Mode, within the product summary bar on the right side. This shows up when you click on a product. Like I said, we saw this within AI Mode but now it is showing up for some peopel within core web search. Sachin Patel noticed this, I cannot replicate it, but he posted a screenshot of it on X:

Google users can now describe their next trip to its AI Mode in search and select the option to "Create with Canvas," which will build out an itinerary in a side panel complete with data on flights and hotels. The document it puts together can lay out potential plans, with suggestions based on the user's inputs, as well as photos and reviews from Google Maps.

There have been several complaints over the past week about Google showing searchers its old Google Search design. Some of those search results seem to lead to a broken interface, while others just look like they are from a decade or so ago. This seems to be impacting both mobile phones and tablets, from what I can tell. This was first reported on PiunikaWeb who attributed it to Google simplying its search results but that is not it.

BRUSSELS (AP) European Union regulators said Thursday they're investigating whether Google is unfairly demoting some content from media publishers in search results under a policy the company says is aimed at combating scammers. Brussels moved forward despite the risk of incurring the wrath of President Donald Trump, who has lashed out at the 27-nation bloc's digital regulations and vowed to retaliate if American tech companies are penalized.

Google is adding a new feature to its mobile app that could potentially challenge Pinterest in becoming users' first stop for inspirational imagery: a dedicated images tab. The company announced on Wednesday it is introducing a new "Images" icon at the bottom of Google's Search app for iOS and Android devices that will display images personalized to the user's interests.

The bloc's executive arm announced the move after monitoring found that certain content created with advertisers and sponsors was being given such a low priority by the US tech giant that it was effectively no longer visible in search results. European Commission officials said this potentially unfair loss of visibility and of revenue to media owners may be as a result of an anti-spam policy Google operates.

Reddit announced earnings late last week and it boggles me how people love this stock. I am not a financial expert of analysis but Reddit has been saying for some time that 50% of its traffic comes from Google Search. Reddit also said on this Q3 earnings call that its search traffic is flat and that AI is not a traffic driver, at least not yet.

The ad itself does not feature an AI label, with Google believing that consumers don't care whether an ad was generated. However, the YouTube upload to Google's channel does have the platform's "Altered or synthetic content" disclosure. This ad was created by the Google Creative Lab, with the internal marketing group coming up with the concept "before deciding to create it with Veo 3 and other AI tools."

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google confirmed testing AI-generated snippets but the missing AI label is a bug. Bing is testing an animated Copilot response. Google Business Profiles tests a Get Google QR code button. Google Business Profiles also tests related to your search section. Google local listings for hotels has track price changes by email. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.