Daily Search Forum Recap: May 13, 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.

The Google Search Console Discover performance report is missing data from May 7 to May 8. Google Ads is released Dashboards powered by Gemini next week. Google Ads search term report shows the best approximation of the search terms because of AI features. A new study say adding schema did not improve citations in AI responses. Google Merchant Center is testing Merchant Advisor beta.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Discover Performance Report Missing Data May 7 & May 8
  Google had yet another Search Console reporting bug, this time with the Discover performance report. Between May 7, 2026 and May 8, 2026, Google confirmed a data logging issue that can result in the report showing fewer clicks and impressions. It is a reporting issue only and not a Discover ranking issue.
• Google Ads Teases New Dashboards Powered By Gemini
  Google posted a tease for Google Marketing Live where Google Ads will be announcing new dashboards powered by Gemini. Google wrote on X, "Tired of manual reporting? Introducing Dashboards built with Gemini capabilities."
• Google Ads Search Terms Report Shows Best Approximation Of User's Intent
  Google at some point added a section to this Google Ads document explaining that because of all the new Google AI search features, like Lens, AI Mode, AI Overviews, or auto-complete searches - the search terms report now may show keywords that "represents the best approximation of the user's intent."
• Study: Adding Schema Did Not Improve AI Citations On Google, ChatGPT & More
  A new study from Ahrefs says that adding schema does not and did not boost citations on any of the AI platforms including Google (AI Overviews or AI Mode), ChatGPT and others. "Adding schema produced no major uplift in citations on any platform," Ahrefs wrote.
• Google Merchant Center Tests Merchant Advisor
  Google is testing a new AI assistant in Google Merchant Center named Merchant Advisor. I assume it is similar to Google Ads Advisor and something that Google might announce at Google Marketing Live next week.
• Android Seesaw At Google Offices
  Google may have installed a new seesaw, an Android seesaw, at the Google offices. I think this is one of the campuses at the Mountain View, California location but I can be wrong.

Other Great Search Threads:

• I believe Google recently changed how it answers some "best" queries in AI Overviews. Previously, using a listicle that ranked your own company as #1 was often sufficient to get recommended in the answer. Now, it looks like Google, Lily Ray on X
• Please note that "Monthly, quarterly and annual data is available for 11 years." You'll find additional details and related links in the article Jordan linked to above he, AdsLiaison on X
• The 202604 Chrome User Experience (CrUX) release is now live on BigQuery!, Barry Pollard on Bluesky
• Yet another big step towards Jarvis. Google is so well-positioned for this transition to Jarvis -> Google announces Gemini Intelligence, bundling existing and new Gemini features, including task automation across apps and vibe-codin, Glenn Gabe on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Ads adds Gemini-powered dashboards for real-time insights
• Google quietly gave 54 publishers control over their Discover profiles. Here’s what they did with it.
• Google Discover performance reporting bug in Search Console
• The delegation boundary: How AI decides which brands win
• OpenAI adds product feed ads to ChatGPT
• How soft 404s and indexing issues caused a 90% traffic collapse
• How negative information spreads from Wikipedia into AI search

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Ecommerce AI Search Optimization: What Citation Patterns Across 5 Subverticals Tell Us About Optimizing Beyond PDPs and PLPs, Aleyda Solis

Analytics

• GA4 Tutorial: How to get started with Google Analytics 4, Wix SEO Hub
• Introducing Agent Analytics nodes for Profound Agents, Profound

Industry & Business

• SpaceX and Google Are in Talks to Explore Data Centers in Orbit, Wall Street Journal
• Wrongful Death Lawsuits Against OpenAI Test a New Strategy, New York Times
• Elizabeth Warren Targets Amazon, Google, Microsoft And Meta After Warning That AI Data Centers 'Use As Much Electricity As 100,000 Households', Yahoo Finance

Links & Content Marketing

• 5 reasons why AI will not save your business or your marketing, Alice Rowan
• New: Yoast AI Content Planner turns a blank post into a structured draft, Yoast
• Passive Link Building: Why It’s Mostly a Myth (And What Actually Works), The Upper Ranks
• Disavow Files: What Are They & Are They Still Relevant for SEO Today?, JumpFly

Local & Maps

• Android Auto is now one (screen) size fits all, The Verge
• Department of Justice Files Complaint Against B.E.S.T. GDR, LLC, Doing Business As Premium Home Service, and its CEO Yosef Bernath for Violations of the FTC Act and Related Laws, United States Department of Justice
• Drivers can look forward to a rich new experience, premium entertainment and a more capable Gemini., Google Blog

SEO

• Calculating your real AI search CTR with log files, Oncrawl
• SEO Silo Best Practices for Blogging, Bruce Clay
• What to Do to Get Cited by AI? Is It SEO or GEO?, Ann Smarty
• Why you shouldn't let AI ghostwrite your SEO RFP, SALT agency

PPC

• Ad Scheduling: How to Set It Up Right On Google, Meta, & Microsoft Ads, WordStream
• Driving Incremental Conversions with AI Max for Search, Orange 142
• OpenAI makes it easier to run shopping ads in ChatGPT, Digiday
• Rewarded Portals: Drive In‑Game Engagement, Microsoft Advertising

Search Features

• Gemini in Chrome with auto browse comes to Android, Google Blog
• Gemini Intelligence brings proactive AI to Android, Google Blog
• More images in answers for Free users, ChatGPT Release Notes

Other Search

• Google Unveils Android AI Updates Ahead of Apple’s Siri Revamp, Bloomberg
• Introducing Googlebook, designed for Gemini Intelligence, Google Blog

Feedback:

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