Daily Search Forum Recap: February 5, 2026

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 Ads now offers multi-party approvals for enhanced security. Google AdSense added more reporting metrics. Microsoft Advertising is testing magazine answer card ad formats. Google Personal Intelligence uses fun icons. Google local hotel photos adds a "Good to know" label on photos. And Google reported earnings, it was big, big numbers.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Ads Multi-Party Approval Aims To Stop Hijacking Ads Accounts
  Google has launched what it calls Multi-party approval for Google Ads. "Multi-party approval (MPA) is a security feature for Google Ads designed to protect your account from unauthorized activity by requiring a second account administrator to verify high-risk changes," Google wrote.
• Google Ad Revenue Up 14% - Google's Biggest Revenue & Ad Revenue Yet
  Google reported its earnings today, its Q4 2025 earnings report showed ad revenues up by 14% at $82.3 billion and overall revenue was up 17% at $113.8 billion. I specifically like to dig in as best as I can on the ad revenue side to see how Google Ads have performed.
• Google AI Overviews Bug Removes Links & Citations
  Google confirmed there is a bug with AI Overviews not showing links for some responses. The bug was spotted by Lily Ray, who posted some examples several hours ago. Rajan Patel, Google's VP, Engineering for Search, replied saying it is a bug and Google is working on fixing it.
• Google Local Hotel Photos "Good To Know" AI Labels
  Google is testing labeling some photos in the local hotel listings with "Good to Know" AI-generated descriptions of some of those photos. These labels seem to summarize what the photo and reviews say about the specific area of that hotel.
• Google AdSense Reports Gain Browser, Hosting App & Operating System
  Google AdSense seems to be rolling out new metrics for the AdSense reports in the console. These include Browser breakdown, Hosting App breakdown and Operating system breakdown metrics and data.
• Google Personal Intelligence Small App Icons In Responses
  Did you know that when Google AI Mode uses Personal Intelligence, Google will add icons of the various connected Google apps used to tailor your message. So you might see a Gmail icon, or Google Photos icon or Search or something else show up as a citation or source near the responses.
• Microsoft Advertising Tests Magazine Answer Card Ad Format
  Microsoft Advertising is testing a new ad format within its newish Answer Card format called a magazine layout. These load ads in the card formats you see at the top of some of the Bing search results.
• Googler Working In a Teacup
  Here is a photo from 10 years ago, one of those throwback photos, of a Googler working in a teacup. I doubt this is a tea cup at the Google office, but hey, who knows, I've seen stranger things at Google offices.

Other Great Search Threads:

• This more contextual AI Overviews may be rolling out now, Barry Schwartz on X
• Google is nuking the AI-generated content on Shopify's blog. Ecom website owners, more pages on your website does not necessarily mean better SEO or better GEO. The last time the traffic was at this level was in Jan 2022. That's despi, Harpreet on X
• US States are appealing the Google Search monopoly ruling remedies, Barry Schwartz on X
• But... with the latest volatility (which I believe was a reviews update), Wirecutter jumped up a bit. Hit hard by the December core update but moving up with the unconfirmed reviews update. Very interesting and backs up my theory th, Glenn Gabe on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Ads adds a second set of eyes for high-risk account changes
• In Google Ads automation, everything is a signal in 2026
• Anthropic says Claude will remain ad-free as ChatGPT tests ads
• DOJ and states appeal Google search antitrust remedies ruling
• How Google Ads quality score really affects your CPCs
• Google may be cracking down on self-promotional ‘best of’ listicles
• What higher ed data shows about SEO visibility and AI search
• Google lists Googlebot file limits for crawling
• Why Google’s Performance Max advice often fails new advertisers

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• AI Bots Are Now a Signifigant Source of Web Traffic, Wired
• Alexa+, Amazon's AI assistant, is now available to everyone in the U.S., TechCrunch
• Claude is a space to think, Anthropic
• Google AI announcements from January, Google Blog

Industry & Business

• Amazon Discusses Getting Special Access to OpenAI Tech, The Information
• Anthropic Takes Aim at OpenAI’s ChatGPT in Super Bowl Ad Debut, Wall Street Journal
• Google hosts neighborhood open house in Haskell County ahead of data center plans, Yahoo
• Microsoft brings back Hayete Gallot to run security, new role for Bell, CNBC
• Microsoft’s Pivotal AI Product Is Running Into Big Problems, Wall Street Journal
• Türkiye opens new antitrust probe into Google, Turkiye Today

Links & Content Marketing

• 30 Use Cases for B2B Influencer Marketing in 2026, TopRank Marketing
• Law Firms and Digital PR: Turning Expertise into Headlines, Blue Array

Local & Maps

• AI Answers Are Shockingly Easy to Manipulate for Local SEO, Reputation Arm
• Don't Update Google Maps if You Use Android Auto, As Widespread Bug Hits Users, AutoEvolution

SEO

• AI Visibility: Old-School SEO Metrics Don’t Work, So What Do We Measure / Optimize For?, Ann Smarty
• Gemini Gems for SEO Efficiency: Stop Repeating Your Prompts, The SEO Community
• What is Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)?, Smarter Ecommerce
• What Marketers Should Know About AI in the Ecommerce & Advertising Landscape: Q1 2026, Seer Interactive

PPC

• The PPC Skills That Won’t Be Replaced By Automation, Search Engine Journal
• Why Most Google Ads Strategies Fail at B2B Keywords, PPC Live

Search Features

• Gemini’s next big feature could turn it into your personal travel guide, Android Authority
• Google is testing a cleaner Gemini overlay at the cost of some of its best features, Android Authority
• Update: AI Overviews Reduce Clicks by 58%, Ahrefs

Feedback:

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