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 Search Console launched the AI-powered configuration tool. Google has new link styles for AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google Ads may be reenabling paused keywords. Google Ads PMax placement reports have details. Google is losing a knowledge graph source. Google AdSense has a bug with anchor and vignette ads.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Hover Pop Up Links Official In Google AI Overviews & AI Mode
Earlier this month, we covered Google testing what we called contextual overlay link cards in AI Overviews and AI Mode. Well, Google officially began rolling them out yesterday, and they are more like hover-over pop-up link cards. -
Google Search Console AI-Powered Configuration Goes Live
Google has finally fully rolled out the Google Search Console AI-powered configuration tool. Google wrote on LinkedIn, "The Search Console's new AI-powered configuration is now available to everyone! Have you already tried it?" -
Google Ads Now Shows PMax Placement Report Details
Google Ads is now showing in the "When and where ads showed" report, the ability to see PMax, Performance Max, reporting. So you can see the placement, type, network and impressions you are getting from your PMax campaigns. -
Google Ads Tool Auto Enabling Paused Keywords?
Google Ads may be automatically enabling paused keywords in your advertising accounts. I am waiting for a statement from Google on this but there are reports that this is being done through the low activity system bulk changes. -
Google Is Losing A Knowledge Graph Source - CIA World Factbook
Google is losing one of its main sources of information for its Knowledge Graph, the CIA World Factbook. This was a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. -
Google AdSense Anchor & Vignette Ads Bug Won't Close Ads
There is a bug impacting a number of Google AdSense publishers where the anchor and vignette ads won't close for users. This has been an issue since February 13th and Google is reportedly working on a fix for the issue. -
Toy Monkey Sitting By Google Piano
I am not sure what this is about but there is this toy monkey of sorts sitting on a piano bench near a piano at a Google office. This was taken at one of the offices by the GooglePlex in California.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Arpan Banerjee discovered that Google now recommends Customers' behavior to improve measurement (beta) in conversion action., Adriaan Dekker on LinkedIn
- Duane Brown is doing his annual PPC Salary Survey - if you have a minute here is the form. The more people who complete it the better the data is!, Julie F Bacchini on X
- I think those are just images from the page, no special markup needed (other than images)., John Mueller on Bluesky
- Important changes coming in March for Lookalike audiences in Demand Gen: Lookalike as a suggestion instead of a targeting constraint, Dario Zannoni on LinkedIn
- Is it just me or Google Search Console has a few new sidebar icons? Left: old sitemaps icon Right: new sitemaps icon, Pedro Dias on X
- Nothing has changed. Ad Strength is a diagnostic tool. A low Ad Strength notice indicates that your ads may have limited impression opportunities based on the number, diversity, and relevancy of the assets you’ve pr, AdsLiaison on X
- See you all at Google I/O starting May 19th!, Sundar Pichai on X
- Site reputation abuse but for GEO (as a service) -> Future leverages high visibility on ChatGPT by offering GEO as a service "The content in these campaigns is labelled as sponsored but is still used by ChatGPT and other LLMs to ans, Glenn Gabe on X
- The fact that this post has SIX HUNDRED+ likes is a perfect representation of just how bad things have gotten in our industry, Lily Ray on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google launches more visible links in AI Overviews and AI Mode
- Airbnb says traffic from AI chatbots converts better than Google
- TikTok launches AI-powered ad options for entertainment marketers
- Meta adds Manus AI tools into Ads Manager
- Google shifts Lookalike to AI signals in Demand Gen
- Google’s Jeff Dean: AI Search relies on classic ranking and retrieval
- Why AI optimization is just long-tail SEO done right
- Google Search Console AI-powered configuration rolling out
- Rand Fishkin proved AI recommendations are inconsistent – here’s why and how to fix it
- Google Ads adds beta data source integrations to conversion settings
- How to create a persona GPT for SEO audience research
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- Anthropic releases Sonnet 4.6, TechCrunch
- From cats and dogs to Erdos: AI groups chase progress through maths, Financial Times (Sub)
- Google Gemini said it lied to placate a user, The Register
- Google’s 2026 Responsible AI Progress Report, Google Blog
- Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Science, Google Blog
Analytics
- Acquisition Reports in GA4, KRM Digital Marketing
- Bye, Bye Human-Powered Marketing Analytics, Avinash Kaushik
Industry & Business
- Get ready for Google I/O 2026, Google Developers Blog
- Google Cloud supplants Azure as Unilever cloud of choice, Computer Weekly
- Google I/O 2026 set for May 19-20, 9to5Google
- Google signs 150MW geothermal PPA with Ormat in Nevada, Data Center Dynamics
- Google Taps Ormat Geothermal Power to Supply Nevada Data Centers, Bloomberg
- How Anthropic Sweetens the Deal for Its Cloud Providers, The Information
- Reddit Fights Investor Suit Over Google AI Impact, Law360 UK
Links & Content Marketing
- New Clutch and Conductor Data Reveals 87% of Content Marketers Increasing Budgets in 2026 as SEO Expands Into AI Search, Business Wire
- Signs Your Website Copy Was Written Without Content Design, Alice Rowan
Local & Maps
- Android Auto's latest beta update shows Google is still working on in-car video streaming, Android Police
- Have AI Get Prices - Google Business Profiles - AI Talking to AI, Steady Demand
- A code snippet in iOS 26.4 shows Apple TV is coming to CarPlay, AppleInsider
- Google Flights reveals spring break 2026 travel trends, Google Blog
SEO
- 6 steps to AI search optimization, Oncrawl
- AI Search Has a Spam Problem, DEJAN
- How To Mine Google Search Console For Conversation Data (Regex Included), Nectiv
- The Death of Linear Search: How Gen Z Redefines Information Discovery, Bruce Clay
- When hyper focusing on SEO goes too far, Ilana Davis
PPC
- Announcing user list management and enhanced audience ingestion for the Data Manager API, Google Ads Developer Blog
- February 2026 product updates, Microsoft Advertising
- Google Renames Destinations to Marketing Methods in GMC, PPC News Feed
- Google Reveals PMAX Placements Incl. Search Partners, PPC News Feed
- How to Track, Analyze, & Optimize Performance Max, WordStream
- The Return of the Technical PPC Agency in an AI Driven Era, ZATO
- Google Offers $600 Incentive for Conversion Tracking Setup, PPC News Feed
- Perplexity drops advertising as it warns it will hurt trust in AI, Financial Times (Sub)
Search Features
- New Google features for Lunar New Year 2026, Google Blog
Other Search
- Apple Ramps Up Work on Glasses, Pendant and Camera AirPods for AI Era, Bloomberg
- Google’s Gemini Has Matured to the Point Where It Can Take Over Search, Bloomberg
- Here's how you’ll control and navigate Android XR glasses, 9to5Google
Feedback:
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