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 added the achievements section to the reporting interface. What is this "Question Fringe Score" factor for Google Search. Microsoft is mixing ads within the organic Bing image search results. Microsoft is testing a sticky search bar on Bing Search. The Rolling Stone's publisher sued Google over its AI Overviews.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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What Is Google Question Fringe Score
Did you know Google Search uses some sort of question fringe score? It is part of the Google search data leak from a year ago, but it seems no one spotted it. It is under the name question_fringe_score. -
Bing Image Search With Ads Mixed Into The Organic Results
It looks like the Microsoft Advertising team is at it again. This time Microsoft is now mixing ads within the organic search results in Bing Image Search. So you will find small little ad labels on some of the image results. -
Bing Testing Sticky Search Bar Header
Microsoft is testing a new search bar/box header for the Bing Search results. The Bing search bar sticks to the top as you scroll through the search results. Google just rolled that out a month or so ago and now Bing is testing it. -
Rolling Stone Publisher (Penske) Sued Google Over AI Overviews
Penske Media, which operates and owns Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Variety and others has sued Google over its AI Overviews. The lawsuit says Google used its content while resulting in less overall traffic for them and a drop in affiliate income. -
New (But Old) Google Search Console Achievements
Google announced that the old Search Console achievements you would get in those emails for the past few years, well, now there is a dedicated report you can access in Search Console. -
Google San Francisco Pool Table
A decade a ago, I covered a custom Google San Francisco pool table with a Google logo with the bridge. Maybe Google got a new one or replaced the existing one but here it the updated model.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Noticing in Semrush that People Also Ask (PAAs) have dropped off significantly in August industry wide. Was there a tracking update on your side @semrush? Other tools aren't reflecting this data so just wanted to double check., Ryan Mews on X
- Bing: testing Image Creator & Video Creator on the homepage., Sachin Patel on X
- Google Chrome is 17 years old this week. Today, 17 years ago, I wrote this 'first impressions' blogpost. (In Dutch, but Google Translate will do its job :-)., Peter Kassenaar on Bluesky
- SEOs please stop saying “The Algorithm”. There’s tons and tons of algorithms. Here’s just a very small example of sorting algorithms etc from my study app and these (and absolutely tons more) will be used in search., Dawn Anderson on Bluesky
- Unrelated to the 100 num issue, SEMRush had a separate bug with how it processed and understood PAA with AI overviews - just confirmed it to me. So anyone seeing big drops or improvements in semrush, William Green on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- 1.5 million chats reveal who uses ChatGPT and why
- TikTok’s U.S. future rests on Trump–Xi meeting this week
- Google Ads auto-enables ‘Store Visits’ conversions, sparking concerns
- Penske Media sues Google, says AI Overviews hurt revenue, traffic
- Google Search Console adds achievements section
- Fame engineering: The key to generative engine optimization
- Google Search rank and position tracking is a mess right now
- From reactive to proactive: How AI protects and amplifies executive brands
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- GA4 Cross-Domain Tracking, KRM Digital Marketing
Industry & Business
- Alphabet becomes fourth company to reach $3 trillion market cap, CNBC
- Google Ad Tech Sale Offer Fell Far Short of Breakup DOJ Seeks, Bloomberg
- Hundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working Conditions, Wired
- Lawyers behind $700 million Google settlement ask for $85 million fee award, Reuters
- Google makes £5bn pledge to Britain - but concerns raised over mooted UK-US tech deal, Sky News
- OpenAI hires ex-xAI CFO Mike Liberatore Altman-Musk rivalry escalates, CNBC
Links & Content Marketing
- Content That Wins: Smarter Strategy in the AI Era | Shelley Walsh, Advanced Web Ranking
- What Is Content Marketing? How It Works in 2025, WordStream
- Why Your Medical Practice Content is Failing (and How to Turn It Into a Patient Magnet Instead), Endura Growth Partners
- Can social media marketing support your backlinking strategy?, PPC Hero
Local & Maps
- Apple Maps Is Now a Better Google Maps, Waze Rival, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
- 'Meta Ray-Ban Display' Glasses Design & HUD Clips Leak Ahead Of Connect, UploadVR
- iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, And visionOS 26 Are Now Available, BGR
- iOS and iPadOS 26: The MacStories Review, MacStories
- Snap OS 2.0 Brings The AR Glasses Closer To Consumer-Ready, UploadVR
- Why Was Google's Chromecast Line Discontinued?, BGR
- HomePod 26 adds three new features to Apple’s smart speakers, 9to5Mac
SEO
- Bots vs. Your Website: Which Ones to Allow and Which to Block?, Search Engine World
- Enhancing product descriptions, Ilana Davis
- What Google Considers Spam And Why Your Business Should Care, Nikki Pilkington
- Does schema help you surface more in Google's AI Mode?, SALT agency
- The num=100 Effect: Why Deep Research Feels Shrinks - AI & SEO Fundamentals, Metehan
PPC
Search Features
- OpenAI upgrades Codex with a new version of GPT-5, TechCrunch
- Google AI Mode says 'currently not available'? You're not alone, Piunika Web
Other Search
- AI challenges the dominance of Google search, BBC
- OpenAI Ramps Up Robotics Work in Race Toward AGI, Wired
- Hackers are using Google search results to spread fake apps filled with malware — don't fall for this, Tom's Guide
Feedback:
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