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 Search Console's Generative AI performance report has a data logging issue on August 13. Google's AI Overviews AI-generated images test is confirmed but Google decided to pause the experiment. Google Search will eventually support the new HTTP QUERY method. Google is testing underlining and maybe hyperlinking the word in the related searches for section of the search results. ChatGPT Ads can swap to a new advertiser on load, it might be a bug. Google is dropping support for Euro-denominated check payments for AdSense publishers after August 7, 2026. Google is now enabling those with Google Search Profiles to edit their handle, their short name.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Performance Reports Drop In Impressions/Clicks ~August 12
There are a number of reports that the performance reports, both for Google Search and the Generative AI features reports, are showing a decline in impressions and clicks (AI report does not show clicks) starting around August 12th and 13th. This seems like a bug because the drop seems to be super widespread. -
Google AI Overviews With AI-Generated Images In The Wild (Test Paused)
A month ago, we reported that Google said it would be rolling out AI-generated images within AI Overviews in Google Search. Well, it seems Google is starting to roll out those AI-generated images in AI Overviews this week. -
Google Search Will Eventually Support HTTP QUERY Method
Gary Illyes from Google said Google Search will eventually support the new HTTP QUERY method. He said as the "ecosystem catches up" Google will then support the HTTP QUERY method. -
Google Related Searches For With Underline Hyperlink
Google is testing underlining and maybe hyperlinking the word in the related searches for section of the search results. Normally, that section is not underlined, but for some reason, Google is testing underlining the query. -
ChatGPT Ads Switching Advertisers On Load
Sometimes when you look at the ads within OpenAI's ChatGPT, you might notice an ad from one advertiser first loads and then it quickly blinks and loads a different advertiser. I suspect this is a bit of a deficiency with the ad server, but I am not certain. -
Google AdSense Will Stop Euro-Denominated Check Payments August 7
Google is dropping support for Euro-denominated check payments for AdSense publishers after August 7, 2026. Google wrote this as a note in this document saying, "Effective August 7, 2026, Google will no longer support Euro-denominated check payments. If you're receiving payments via USD-denominated checks, you can continue to do so." -
You Can Now Edit Your Handle On Google Search Profiles
As expected, Google is now enabling those with Google Search Profiles to edit their handle, their short name. This is available by going to your Google Search Profile. -
Creepy Robot By GooglePlex Window
Here is a photo of that creepy looking robot standing by one of the big windows at the Google office in Mountain View, California - the GooglePlex.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Update: I have a new job and I’m very excited about it. I am (re)joining Google as the VP of Product for Google Chrome! Several of my colleagues from https://t.co/HfTTsrdU9k are joining the team as well :). Let me quickly explain why we’re so excited to work on Chrome. I’ve, Jacob Bank on X
- Asset Optimization Upgrade in Your Existing Performance Max Video Ads, Menachem Ani on X
- We are excited to open a new Senior Product Management position in the Search and Grounding Platform team focusing on an Index Platform which discovers, crawls, selects, processes and aggregates the web graph, Meenaz Merchant on LinkedIn
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google Ads will use generative AI to resize Performance Max video ads
- ChatGPT draws more paid clicks from Google than any other top destination
- Google Search Console Generative AI Performance Report in Search data bug
- Ginny Marvin on Smart Bidding, AI and why PPC fundamentals still matter
- Google Search pauses AI-generated images within AI Overviews
- SMX Now: The target bidding apocalypse and how we’ve been here before
- Google updates Demand Gen view-through conversion optimization
- The AI visibility index: Which brands are vanishing from AI search?
- The $113,000 paid search test: How much traffic did organic replace?
- Inside ChatGPT’s retrieval stack: The index, cache, and pages it actually reads
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- Build zero-trust AI agents with Google's Agent Development Kit, Google Developers Blog
- Claude turns into Super App, adding web browser for Cowork, Testing Catalog
- We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility, 404 Media
- What Is AI Saying About Your Brand? Develop a Brand Canon and Find Out., Seer Interactive
- Slop Antibodies, Growth Memo
Analytics
- GTM Container ID for Faster Debugging, KRM Digital Marketing Ltd
Industry & Business
- Anthropic Revenue Run Rate Surpasses $65 Billion Ahead of IPO, Bloomberg
- Google Aims to Boost AI With Purchase of Spirit Airlines Data, Bloomberg Law News
- OpenAI Locks In Lease for Huge Data Center in Ohio With Backing From Nvidia, Wall Street Journal
- Why Big Tech’s AI Spending Is $3 Trillion Higher Than It Seems, Wall Street Journal
- Anthropic Revenue Jumped 14 Times in Second Quarter, The Information
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
- ChatGPT's Local Pack Is Google Maps (not Bing, not YELP): A DevTools Experiment, Szymaniak Digital
- Google Maps bug makes hotels disappear, PhoneArena
- Google Patent: AI Voice Assistant Automates Phone Calls, Patentlyze
- Introducing Large Vehicle Routing: Address the unique logistics needs of large vehicle fleets, Google Maps Platform
- Google Maps Bug Makes Hotel Pins Disappear, Android Headlines
Other Search
- Widespread global outage hits Google Home and Nest devices, Android Authority
PPC
- Microsoft Publishes Conversions API Documentation, PPC News Feed
- What We Learned From Ginny Marvin Ahead of Google’s Aug. 17 Bidding Update, Cypress North
SEO
- How to Optimise for AI Search, Hallam
- How to See What People Ask About Your Brand In AI Search, seoClarity
- How to Determine If Your AEO Efforts Are Actually Working, seoClarity
- We Analyzed Millions of AI Bot Scrapes. Here's 6 Crazy Things We Found, WordStream
- How to Run an LLM Sentiment Analysis for Your Ecommerce Brand, Intergrowth
- What Gets Quoted and What Gets Absorbed: A Passage-Level Study of AI Citations, Advanced Web Ranking
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