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 updated its spam policy to clarify it applies to the AI responses in Google Search. Google said its indexing API is inundated by bloggers. Google autocomplete has AI Overview search icons, as a test. Google Ads has a new create video with AI button. Google AI Mode is showing direct hotel bookings inside AI responses. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google: Spam Policies Apply To AI Responses (AI Overviews & AI Mode)
Google updated the leading paragraph in the search spam policies to clarify that the policies apply to the Google Search AI responses, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode (or whatever else is AI-generated). Google said, "the Google Search spam policies also apply to generative AI responses in Google Search." -
Google Indexing API Is Inundated By Bloggers
Google's John Mueller said, "The indexing API is inundated by bloggers trying to act like legitimate sites." This means that Google needs to be more careful about who and what they accept through the Google indexing API. -
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Ranking Volatility Heated, Discover Data Goes Missing, FAQ Rich Results Totally Gone & Google Ads AI Dashboards
This week in search I covered, yep, heated Google search ranking volatility kicking in the middle of this week. Google updated its spam policies to say it also applies to Google's AI responses in Search. Google Discover... -
Google Search Autocomplete With AI Overview Search Icon
Google is testing showing a new icon in the autocomplete search suggestions, as you type your search. The icon has a magnifying glass with the Gemini logo on it. It suggests a longer query, a prompt, and when you click it, it takes you to Google Search but with the AI Overview response expanded and fully open. -
Google Ads Create Video With AI Beta
Google Ads is testing a new "Create video" beta feature that has the Gemini logo next to it. So this feature uses Gemini, Google's AI, to create the video for you for your Demand Gen campaigns. -
Google AI Mode With Direct Hotel Booking Links Inside Responses
Google is now showing directly hotel booking links directly inside the AI-generated responses within AI Mode. This can lead to sending hotels direct traffic in the AI response, which seems like a win to me. -
YouTube Creator Collective 100th Edition Gift
Google's YouTube is gifting what is called the YouTube YouTube Creator Collective 100th Edition. I think it was done in India and only India and it is for when maybe you publish your 100th video? I am not 100% sure.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Google is now showing a trending brand label attached to some stores within the new product grid ads. This is a point of difference for the new product grid ads for standing out against free listing results within grids., SERP Alert on X
- AI Max doesn't support all of the rules you may be currently using (e.g. page contains) in DSA, Ginny Marvin on LinkedIn
- Google ai overview results site link with two different blue shades, Khushal Bherwani on X
- To clarify on having more than one RSA in an ad group: We recommend using different landing pages because having variations that match the different angles an ad group is aiming to cover helps performance., Ginny Marvin on LinkedIn
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Microsoft Advertising expands LinkedIn profile targeting to CTV
- Google expands Ads API testing tools in v24.1 release
- Google Analytics adds AI Assistant channel to measure AI traffic
- How to prioritize technical SEO fixes by business impact
- Your client sent ChatGPT SEO advice: Here’s how to respond
- 3 ways to turn LinkedIn into a B2B AI discovery engine
- Inside ChatGPT Search: how web.run and fan-out queries shape AI visibility
- AI skills: The next layer of marketing automation
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- OpenAI-Apple Partnership Frays, Setting Up Possible Legal Fight, Bloomberg
- Quick Tip: The Case for Cloaking for Large Language Models, iPullRank
Analytics
- GA4 on all pages?, KRM
Industry & Business
- Anthropic, Gates Foundation launch $200 million partnership for AI in health, education, Reuters
- Google Says Yelp's Search Win Bid Overlooks Key Differences, Law360 UK
- OpenAI says hackers stole some data after latest code security issue, TechCrunch
- Alphabet Sells Biggest Yen Bond on Record by Foreign Issuer, Bloomberg
- Google Workers' Attys Get $12.5M In Race Bias Deal Final OK, Law360
Links & Content Marketing
- This ONE type of content gives marketers an edge in search, Content Caffeine
- How To Turn Event Speaking Into a Brand Strategy, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Google Has Just Fixed an Ancient Android Auto Interface Issue, AutoEvolution
- Google Maps For Apple CarPlay Is About To Get A New Hands-Free Feature, BGR
- Study of 800K AI Responses: How Review Profiles Shape Brand Presence in AI Search, Seer Interactive
- Where Did My Google Reviews Go? Checklists for Troubleshooting Review Loss, Whitespark
SEO
- How to Optimize Your Content for AI Search Visibility (Content for GEO / AEO), Lumar
- SEO is a product, AEO is brand, Product Led SEO
- The B2C SEO Guide for Underdog Companies, Intergrowth
- AI Chatbot Traffic: What It Is, and How to Get More, Ahrefs
- EAV Framework SEO: Mastering Attribute Completeness 2026, Michael Patrick Cortez
PPC
Other Search
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