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 lot of movement and indexing complaints over the past 24 hours, likely related to the Google August 2025 spam update. Google is testing AI Mode within the Google search autocomplete suggestions. Google Ads has new promotions, campaign total budget and more. Google is testing sitelinks arrows on the left. Bing is testing ads that expand on hover.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google August 2025 Spam Update Heats Up Again
The Google August 2025 spam update seems to be heating up again. I am seeing both chatter within the SEO spike, while also seeing many of the third-party Google tracking tools show heated weather in the past 24 hours or so. -
Google Ads Tests Promotion Mode, Campaign Total Budgets & More
Google Ads is testing new ways to maximize budget utilization and hit volume goals during planned or last-minute promotions. There are a few new options Google is testing, including promotion mode, campaign total budget and more. -
Google Tests Sitelinks Arrows On Left
Google is testing placing the arrows next to the sitelinks on the left side of the sitelinks. Normally those arrows are on the right side of the sitelinks. -
Google Showing AI Mode In Autocomplete Search Suggestions
Google is now showing AI Mode shortcuts in the autocomplete search suggestions. As you type the main Google Search box, Google may try to jump you to AI Mode with shortcuts. -
Bing Tests Ads Text That Expands On Hover
Microsoft is testing expanding the text of the Microsoft Advertising search ads on Bing Search. So when you hover your mouse over an ad in Bing Search, the text expands. -
Google Windows
Here is a photo from the Google Dublin office of the colored framed windows on the outside. I found this on Instagram.
Other Great Search Threads:
- I'm curious (also curious if anyone else knows this?) can search terms that are marked LSV in keywords, be eligible to show in AI Max & Broad & PMax? Docs say the "auction" is ineligible until more volume. So will, Kirk Williams on X
- The 202508 Chrome User Experience (CrUX) release is now live on BigQuery!, Barry Pollard on Bluesky
- There’s been a lot happening in crypto recently, and we’ve heard your feedback that you want to stay informed on the latest in the crypto world. So we’re excited to announce that you can now follow Solana $SOL on Google Finance, Rose Yao on X
- To be fair, there are a lot of potential favicons for web pages, and it's hard for individual systems to pick "the right one" (and for you to know which one that might be). Additionally, since these rarely change & are crawled infrequently, trying things , John Mueller on Bluesky
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google adds YouTube breakdowns for Demand Gen campaigns
- Nearly all ChatGPT users still rely on Google: Data
- Google Ads tests new promo-focused budget tools
- Video: 5 AI search stories you need to know (September 2025)
- Google Ads links web + app campaigns with new features
- When to trust Google Ads AI and when you shouldn’t
- Google drops reporting on several structured data types
- Cross-platform, not copy-paste: Smarter Meta, TikTok, and Pinterest ad creative
- 3 things you’ll only learn at the SAP Emarsys Loyalty Masterclass
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- How to optimize B2B SaaS user journeys with GA4, MarTech
- How to Track Social Media Traffic in GA4 | Step-by-Step Tutorial, KP Playbook
Industry & Business
- Google partners with Salt River Project on long duration storage research project, Data Center Dynamics
- Google Quantum AI selected for DARPA’s QBI, Google Blog
- Google’s Monopoly Isn’t Going Anywhere, NY Mag
- Microsoft to Buy AI From Anthropic in Partial Shift From OpenAI, The Information
- Public hearing set for proposed Google data center in Indianapolis, WTHR
Links & Content Marketing
- How To Get More Than a Laugh From Humorous Content, Content Marketing Institute
- Search Is Changing — Is Your B2B Content Strategy Ready?, Forrester
Local & Maps
- 8 Local SEO Strategies for AI Search, ReputationArm
- Android Auto 15.0 rolling out widely, but don't expect major changes, 9to5Google
- Google offers updated holiday travel trends and insights for 2025, Google Blog
- Online travel platforms prepare for rise of artificial intelligence ‘agents’, Financial Times (Sub)
Mobile & Voice
- Apple Intelligence: Everything you need to know about Apple's AI model and services, TechCrunch
- Apple’s new iPhone 17 devices don’t have an AI-powered Siri yet. It doesn’t matter., Yahoo Finance
- Live Translation will also work with AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, AppleInsider
SEO
- Google Discover Publishers ranking in August 2025, DiscoverSnoop
- The future of automated SEO: How AI is changing technical SEO practices, Oncrawl
- The Likely Impact of Site Migrations in the Age of AI Search, Koozai
- What 10 SEO Tools Teach Us About Pricing Pages, Packted
PPC
- AI Chat Now Showing on Google Ads Homepage, PPC News Feed
Search Features
- AI Mode: What We Know for Now, Sara Taher
- Claude can create PDFs, slides, and spreadsheets for you now in chat, ZDNET
- Gemini rolls out ‘Tools’ homepage redesign on the web, 9to5Google
Other Search
- Accelerating scientific discovery with AI-powered empirical software, Google Research Blog
- AI Literacy Resources, The Keyword
- Google AI Plus with Gemini 2.5 Pro, 200 GB storage announced, 9to5Google
Feedback:
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