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.
We are seeing a spike in Google search ranking volatility over the past day or so. Google Ads has a new create video button. Google vehicle ads support ATVs and more. Google Analytics can now track AI assitants and chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and more. Google Ads API version 24.1 is now out.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated May 13th & 14th
Over the past day or so, I am seeing a large spike in signs that there is Google search ranking movement and volatility. This is between the SEO community chatter spiking, as well as some of the tools showing some big volatility swings. -
Google Analytics AI Assistant Traffic: Tracks ChatGPT, Gemini & Claude Traffic
Google announced that GA4, Google Analytics, has a new AI Assistant traffic measurement. This allows you to track AI chatbot traffic, like from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. This is through a new AI Assistant channel in your Default Channel Group reports. -
ATVs & Non-Motorized Vehicles Can Now Be Listed In Google Vehicle Ads
Google is expanding its vehicle ads to support more vehicles in the United States. Specifically, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), RV's Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs), and non-motorized trailers, such as travel trailers and campers are now supported in Google Vehicle Ads. -
Google Ads To Automatically Link YouTube Channels
Google sent out emails to some advertisers notifying them that after June 10, 2026 they will automatically link your Google Ads account with your YouTube channel. Linking them will give Google Ads data on your YouTube channel. -
Google Ads API Version 24.1 Now Available
Google has released version 24.1 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with dozens of updates. This update includes features like mobile device platform segment, classic images in DemandGen, support for passkeys, revamped support of experiments, and support for the new data retention policy. -
Google I/O Cupcakes
Google is getting ready for I/O, its big annual conference, for next week. And yesterday some of the Google offices served Google I/O themed cupcakes to prepare.
Other Great Search Threads:
- After several years of declining search traffic, Condé Nast CEO @rogerlynch has directed all the company's brands to operate as if search traffic to their properties will be zero. He says the era of turning search and social media traffi, TBPN on X
- Google Gemini’s website performance in April 2026: → Record-high 2.761B visits → Alongside TikTok, the only website in the top 20 to grow in April → 16th consecutive month of growth → 6.38% month-over-month growth → 574., Similarweb on X
- I imagine it'll work out in the end. We used a JS redirect from all the blogs to the new location, we recently turned down the last of the old Blogspot "webmaster" blogs. Big company CMSs are sometimes weird, and many people only worry about SEO once ther, John Mueller on Bluesky
- It's not often you get to see a Google site migration. Google moved the Nest community to its own support system. How? Every page now uses a meta refresh redirect to the homepage of the new support area. Oof. 313K urls indexed, Glenn Gabe on X
- MAI-Image-2e is now globally available in Bing Image Creator. This model delivers significant improvements over our previous model: sharper detail and richer color, improved text rendering, and stronger image consistency. Tr, Microsoft Bing Dev on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google tests Merchant Advisor inside Merchant Center
- Google says Search Query Reports may not show actual user searches
- Condé Nast expects search to become a single-digit of its traffic
- Why TurboQuant could accelerate the shift to entity-driven SEO
- Why your brand isn’t making the AI recommendation set
- Why good content still loses in Google Search
- How to eliminate the skepticism tax in marketing data
- The next era of link building is citation optimization
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- Get Mentioned by AI: Building Brand Authority for GEO / AEO, Lumar
- Your New Website Could Make You Invisible to AI. Here's Why., Koozai
- Google is about to release a new Gemini model, Sources News
Analytics
- Building A GA4 Exploration Report To Measure Recognition Proxies, Athens SEO
- How does AI traffic show up in analytics?, Search Pilot
Industry & Business
- Apple criticises EU measures to help AI rivals access Google services, Reuters
- Semrush Announces Partnership With Lovable, Bringing Search Intelligence Into The Building Experience, Semrush
- Silicon Valley’s A.I. Lobbying Blitz Reaches a Fever Pitch, New York Times
- Google Topples Apple As BrandZ's Most Valuable Brand, MediaPost
- OpenAI Floats Idea of Global AI Governance Body With US, China, Bloomberg
Links & Content Marketing
- 32 B2B Social Media Marketing Influencers from Top B2B Brands, TopRank
- It Works Until It Doesn't: AI Content Strategies That Backfire, Lily Ray
- What Content-Led Marketing Orgs Really Look Like, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- 10 Google Maps settings I immediately change on every new phone - and why, ZDNET
- How Customers Find and Choose Local Businesses Online (Google, Reviews, Websites & AI), Rich Sanger SEO
SEO
- How A Search Engine works, SERPrecon
- How Long Does It Take to See Results from SEO?, Igniting Business
- How AI overviews are killing publisher traffic topic by topic data, Press Gazette
- How to Turn Search Data into Market Intelligence, Rudiger Dalchow
PPC
- Product Feed Management: Why It Matters for E-Commerce Performance, Bluetuskr
- The Google Ads Ecommerce Site Migration Checklist Your PPC Team Needs, ZATO
- The Rise of the Hybrid Marketing Engineer, AIMCLEAR
Search Features
Other Search
- Amazon Drops ‘Rufus’ Branding on Shopping Chatbot, The Information
Feedback:
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