Daily Search Forum Recap: May 1, 2025

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 AdSense ads are coming to third-party AI Chatbots. Apple Intelligence will soon make a deal to show Gemini results, as well as others. Google Ads launched channel reporting for PMax campaigns and more. Google Shopping Ads are experimenting with showing favicons. Google is testing AI Overviews on the right side. Microsoft reported earnings and its search ad revenues are up 21% again. I posted the monthly Google webmaster report today as well.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Official Google Ads Channel‬‭ Reporting For Performance Max & More
  In early March, it was leaked that Google Ads will be rolling out channel reporting for Performance Max campaigns. Well, now it is official, Google said they are introducing "‭new‬‭ channel-level‬‭ reporting‬‭ in‬‭ Performance‬‭ Max" plus, "full‬‭ search‬‭ terms‬‭ reporting‬ and‬‭ more‬‭ detailed‬‭ asset‬‭ reporting‬‭ that‬‭ show‬‭ you‬‭ all‬‭ the‬‭ metrics‬‭ for‬‭ individual‬‭ assets.‬"
• Google AdSense To Show Ads In AI Chatbots
  Google AdSense has been testing serving and displaying ads within AI Chatbots. Bloomberg reported Google has already begun testing this within AI search apps iAsk and Liner and plans to allow other AI Chatbot providers to include AdSense ads in their chat responses.
• Google Testing Shopping Ads With Favicons
  Google is testing showing favicons logos in its shopping ads, in the carousel of sponsored product results. Ginny Marvin, Google's Ads Liaison, confirmed this with me on X last night.
• Apple Intelligence To Add Google Gemini & Other AI
  Google has confirmed that Apple will be adding its Gemini AI service to Apple Intelligence by the end of 2025, reports are saying. We knew this would happen but we should also expect Apple to add not just Gemini but other AI services to Apple Intelligence.
• Google Tests AI Overviews On Right Hand Side (Local?)
  Google is testing showing AI Overviews on the right hand side of the search results page. I am not sure if this is specific to local queries and a replacement of sorts for the local panel, I hope not.
• Microsoft Bing Advertising Revenue Up 21% Again
  Microsoft reported its third quarter 2025 earnings and it showed that its search and advertising revenue was up 21%, again. The previous quarter it was up 21% as well, then the quarter before that was up 18%, then 19% but before than it was 12% and 8%.
• May 2025 Google Webmaster Report
  Here is our monthly Google Webmaster Report - the May 2025 edition - where I summarize the past 30 days or so of the big organic Google related news in one place. Google did not have any official Google ranking updates but we sure did see several days of intense ranking volatility.
• Google Chicago Stage Backdrop
  Here is an interesting spot at the Google office in Chicago. It seems like this is of a stage, where there is this replaceable backdrop, and it says Google Chicago in blue script at the top with a photo of the Chicago skyline.

Other Great Search Threads:

• This is the first time I have seen ChatGPT referencing Google reviews. Using data from one of your biggest rivals? Bold move..., Joy Hawkins on X
• goodbye, GPT-4. you kicked off a revolution. we will proudly keep your weights on a special hard drive to give to some historians in the future., Sam Altman on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Merchant Center adds AI-powered product filtering
• Sundar Pichai warns of ‘extraordinary’ risk to Google Search
• Google massively expanding AI Overviews for travel, entertainment
• Google Performance Max Channel, Search, Asset Insights coming soon
• Google Ads target ROAS: Everything you need to know
• Your 2025 guide to SEO reporting and tracking
• How to fix unassigned traffic in GA4

Other Great Search Stories:

Industry & Business

• Google Antitrust Case: Pichai Calls DOJ Plan De Facto Spinoff of Search, Bloomberg
• Microsoft vows to protect European operations from Donald Trump, Financial Times (Sub)
• Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook Talked About Gemini Deal, Pichai Says, The Information

Links & Content Marketing

• 7 Neuro-Writing Tips for More Persuasive Content, Content Marketing Institute
• Content Marketing ROI Statistics And Facts (2025), Coolest Gadgets

Local & Maps

• Apple Maps street view footage collection ongoing in Pune with human-mounted system, The Indian Express
• ‘West Philippine Sea’ no longer visible on Google Maps, ABS-CBN News

Mobile & Voice

• Apple Intelligence: Apple smart glasses in development, BGR
• Google's Gemini chatbot gets upgraded image-creation tools, TechCrunch
• Has Siri's voice changed?, Mashable
• I tested iPhone AI voice assistants: here’s the best one, 9to5Mac
• The latest experiment from Google Labs uses Gemini to help teach you a new language, Android Police

SEO

• Affiliate and eCommerce SEO: AI-Driven Tactics for Scaling Performance Marketing – p15, Search Engine World
• Don’t Get Scammed by an SEO Agency: 9 Red Flags to Watch For, JumpFly
• From AI to API: the New Functions in SISTRIX from the First Quarter of 2025, SISTRIX
• How to Track Your Rankings in ChatGPT, Ann Smarty
• How We Built a SEO AI Agent: One Tab, Zero Copy Paste, 28% More Clicks, Seer Interactive
• Integrating Generative Engine Optimization and SEO, Terakeet

PPC

• Google Places Ads Inside Chatbot Conversations With AI Startups, Bloomberg
• Maximizing ROI in PPC: Strategies That Work (Even When the Algorithm Doesn't), SearchLab Digital
• PPC Live #16: 6 Guardrails to Tame Performance Max, Leveraging Google Ads simulations, and the New Rules of Ecommerce Advertising, PPC Live
• Scaling Without Waste: Smarter Google Ads Budget Allocation in 2025, JXT Group
• Upcoming changes to the commonly used set of ad technology providers, Google AdSense Help
• Update to Industry-specific verification articles (April 2025), Google Advertising Policies Help

Search Features

• DeepSeek quietly updates open-source model that handles maths proofs, South China Morning Post
• DeepSeek upgrades its AI model for math problem solving, TechCrunch
• Gemini app now lets you edit images directly, Google Blog
• Google AI Mode gets Search bar shortcut, tests sleek redesign, 9to5Google

Feedback:

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