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 AI Mode makes some links even worse. Google Personal Intelligence is looking to go global. Google is testing reply to reviews with AI. Bing Webmaster Tools AI performance report gains grounding queries to pages. Apple Maps may soon get ads.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
-
Google AI Mode Tests Changing Some Links To Overlay Cards - Reducing Clicks
Google is testing changing out some of the links within AI Mode to show as overlay cards, instead of take you directly to the website it is mentioning. This obviously will result in fewer direct clicks to those websites. -
Google Tests Reply To Reviews With Al
Google is testing encouraging business owners to reply to reviews using AI. There is a new option in the Google Business Profile dashboard that is showing for some businesses that says "Reply to reviews with AI." -
Bing Webmaster Tools AI Performance Reports Add Grounding Queries To Pages
In February, Bing rolled out new AI Performance reports within Bing Webmaster Tools. Bing announced a new feature for this report that connects the Grounding Queries and Pages views within the AI Performance report. -
Local Ads Coming To Apple Maps
Apple is reportedly launching local ads within Apple Maps, as soon as this month. "Apple Inc. is preparing to introduce advertising in its Maps app, part of a broader push to generate more money from services," Bloomberg wrote. -
Google "Working" On Expanding AI Mode Personal Intelligence Globally
Google was asked if Personal Intelligence in AI Mode will come to paid accounts across the world (not just the US - where it has hit non-paid accounts). Google replied... (Now is the point where you click on the article...)
Other Great Search Threads:
- Help, I can't escape ChatGPT ads... literally no matter what I search for, ads show up., Glenn Gabe on X
- Just announced today at #GoogleNewFront: Gemini is coming to Display & Video 360 to help advertisers anticipate consumer behaviors, better measure and understand data, and provide new agentic solutions to make managing campaigns mor, Dan Taylor on X
- Thanks for exploring virtual try-on with our experimental app Doppl. Your feedback has helped us refine the technology and you can use our virtual try-on tech on product listings and image results across Google. As we make this tran, Google Labs on X
- Yet another example of "Mt. AI". Site surged like mad, only to crash once Google's webspam team caught on. All AI-generated content. 1.6M urls of it... Now, the dreaded '10 urls site query' indicating a manual action. 100% probabili, Glenn Gabe on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- EU signals imminent decision on Google DMA probe
- How AI-generated content performs in Google Search: A 16-month experiment
- Google Ads API to block duplicate Lookalike user lists
- ChatGPT ads pilot leaves advertisers without proof of ROI
- Why zero-click search doesn’t mean zero influence
- Why ‘search everywhere’ is the new reality for SEO
- AI is squeezing marketing agencies from both sides
- Duplicate website stats appear in Google paid search ads
- Google Ads account suspensions: What advertisers need to know
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- Perplexity tests Market Researchtool for Perplexity Computer, Testing Catalog
- See how you’re showing up in AI search, Microsoft Advertising
- The Gemini Advantage in Google Marketing Platform, Google Blog
Analytics
- GA4 Audience Triggers: Setup and Strategy, KRM Digital Marketing
- Monitoring Form Errors using GA4, KRM Digital Marketing
- How UTM tracking parameters on internal links waste crawl budget and fracture analytics. The fix, Elie Berreby
Industry & Business
- Apple Announces WWDC 2026 Will Take Place June 8 to 12, MacRumors
- EU Competition Chief Says Google Decision is Coming, Ahead of U.S. Tech Meetings, Wall Street Journal
- Google expands utility deals to curb data‑center power use during peak demand, Reuters
- Google’s 2026 Water Stewardship Portfolio, Google Blog
- OpenAI seeks to muscle in on Google’s search dominance, Telegraph
- SCOTUS Won't Hear Search Advertiser Appeal Against Google, Apple, MediaPost
- Search Central Live Asia Pacific 2026: Get Ready for Sydney and more!, Google Search Central Blog
- Sundar Pichai’s plan to make Google Gemini the only AI that matters, Fast Company
Links & Content Marketing
- Your Customers Have Already Written Your Content Strategy - You Just Haven't Read It Yet, Nikki Pilkington
Local & Maps
- Android Auto 16.5 Now Available for All Users, As Google Quietly Working on Big Features, AutoEvolution
SEO
- Ranking On Google Still Matters Even When Nobody Clicks, Nikki Pilkington
- AI SEO Workflows: Google AppsScripts for SEOs (Beginner Guide), Billie Geena
- Is Google PageRank Still Relevant in 2026?, Hobo
- Rethinking SEO Structure: Entities, Internal Links, and Topic Hubs | Dixon Jones, Advanced Web Ranking
- Search Console's Average Position, Explained, Practical Ecommerce
- The Research Phase of Content Creation that SEOs Sometimes Skip (But Shouldn’t), JumpFly Digital Marketing Blog
- Does Bold Text Sends Ranking Signals To Google?, Nikki Pilkington
PPC
- Animated Clips Now Appearing in Performance Max Asset Creation, PPC News Feed
- Announcing new Display & Video 360 API Discord channels and a documentation update!, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Do You Need a Google Ads Brand Campaign?, Jyll Saskin Gales
- Google Ads for Sensitive Categories: What You Need to Know to Succeed, WordStream
- OpenAI Taps Former Meta Executive to Lead Ad Push, Wall Street Journal
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.
