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.
It happened- Google released the December 2025 core update on Thursday afternoon. Gemini now shows local responses in a rich and visual way with data from Google Maps and Google Business Profiles. Google also is testing AI-powered article overviews in Google News. Google updated the Google Maps share button to remove X and replace it with Reddit and Facebook. Google Business Profiles notifications go out for removal of rating restrictions. Google spoke about how AI Max works differently and how Google will provide more transparency in the future. And I posted the weekly video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google December 2025 Core Update Is Rolling Out - You Surprised?
Google officially announced the rollout of the December 2025 core update on Thursday at around 12:25 pm ET. This core update is expected to take up to 3 weeks to roll out. Google said this "is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites." -
Google Gemini Local Results In Visual Formats
Google announced that Gemini can now respond to your local questions with local results in a "rich, visual format." Google will visually lay out the local results to include photos, ratings, and real-world info from Google Maps data. -
Google News AI-Powered Article Overviews Go Live For Some Publishers
On Wednesday, Google announced a number of new AI features, which we covered (links below) but one other feature Google spoke about was "AI-powered article overviews." This is an experiment Google News is trying with a handful of publishers. -
Google On AI Max Inferred Intent vs Raw Text
Brad Geddes dug into how he felt "AI Max can trump your existing exact and phrase match keywords and then claim credit for the conversions and revenue." And then Google's Ad Liaison, Ginny Marvin responded to those specific examples on why this happened and what Google is changing... -
Google Maps Share Button Drops X For Reddit & Facebook
Google Maps is updating its share buttons by removing the options to share on X and adding the options to share on Reddit and Facebook. -
Google Notification For Reviews & Rating Restrictions Removals
Google is now sending email notifications for when Google Business Profiles has removed the restrictions on your reviews and ratings. The email says, "Restrictions on your reviews and ratings have been removed" and it comes from the Google Business Profiles team. -
Video: Google December 2025 Core Update, Discover Alignment To Rankings, Search Console Features, AI Mode Updates & More
In this week's recap, we covered that the Google December 2025 core update was unleashed. Google also said more core updates are definitely on their way and one should be coming soon Google also updated its... -
Googlers Getting Ready For Christmas
Here is a photo I found the first week of December of a Googler already ready for the Christmas holidays. You got the Santa costume, the Christmas tree, presents and more.
Other Great Search Threads:
- : "The fabulous @adsliaison of Google Ads will be joining us for PPC Chat, live, on December 16th. Send in your Google Ads questions! We will cover as many as we can in the chat and I will also do a post with all the questions andT, Julie F Bacchini on X
- It goes to a mix of support & product teams, used to better understand where to improve the systems overall., John Mueller on Bluesky
- There is some AI Max confusion circulating this week that I want to clear up: [AI Max is] currently the only way for brands to get their paid messaging in front of AI Overview or AI Mode users, AdsLiaison on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google December 2025 core update rolling out now
- Bing tests Google-style “Sponsored results” grouping
- LAST CALL: Want to write for Search Engine Land?
- From SEO to algorithmic education: The roadmap for long-term brand authority
- A dark landing page won our A/B test – here’s why best practices got it wrong
- How to use LLMs to humanize your content and scale your research
- Semify acquires Dragon Metrics to strengthen global SEO, AI reporting
- Shopify launches Product Network to blend items across merchants
- LinkedIn introduces Reserved Ads, ad personalization, new AI tools
- Google launches natural language Developer Assistant for Google Ads API
- Instagram’s new ‘Your Algorithm’ tool could boost discovery for brands
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- ChatGPT is Apple's most downloaded app of 2025 in the US, TechCrunch
- Gemini 2.5 Text-to-Speech model updates, Google Blog
- Introducing AI Search User Testing: Seer’s Approach to Understanding Your Audience in an AI-First World, Seer Interactive
- It’s About Time: The Copilot Usage Report 2025, Microsoft AI
- New OpenAI models likely to pose "high" cybersecurity risk, Axios
- AI companies want a new internet — and they think they’ve found the key, The Verge
- ChatGPT’s ‘adult mode’ is expected to debut in Q1 2026, The Verge
- Feeling Behind on AI Search? How to Catch Up in 2026, Semrush
- Google AI Studio’s Interactions API for Gemini models and agents, Google Blog
- How AI Search Platforms Expand Queries with Fan-Out and Why It Skews Intent, iPullRank
- Introducing GPT-5.2, OpenAI
- Never Ask an AI Tool How It Came Up with That Answer, SparkToro
- OpenAI calls GPT-5.2 the best model yet for professionals, The Verge
Analytics
- Realtime Reports in GA4, KRM Digital Marketing
Industry & Business
- Google Announces AI Partnerships Pilot with News Publishers, The Information
- Google faces fines over Google Play if it doesn't make more concessions, sources say, Reuters
- Google names new chief of AI infrastructure buildout, Semafor
- Google’s French Assets Targeted by Its Defunct Russian Unit, Bloomberg
- Microsoft, Meta, Google and Apple warned over AI outputs by US attorneys general, Reuters
- AI to accelerate national renewal and growth as Google DeepMind backs UK tech and science sectors, GOV.UK
- Disney sends cease-and-desist letter to Google, CNBC reports, Reuters
- The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring beloved characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora, OpenAI
Links & Content Marketing
- 42 Experts Reveal Top Content Marketing Trends for 2026, Content Marketing Institute
- Why AI content strategies need to focus on tasks not transactions, MarTech
Local & Maps
- Google Maps Will Now Automatically Save Your Parking Spot on iPhone, Lifehacker
- Google’s Latest Test Could Erode Travel Search Referrals, Skift
- Google Maps introduced one of its handiest features yet but it's not on Android, Android Police
SEO
- What we learned about AI, Discover and Shopping from Google during the Search Central Zurich 2025, Aleyda Solis
- 10 ChatGPT SEO Tools That Help You Rank Higher, Ahrefs
- SEO Hiring Trends: How Brands Are Building Winning Teams for the Future, BruceClay
- Why you need to use CAC for SEO, Product Led SEO
PPC
- 11 Biggest Google Ads Updates of 2025 (+How They'll Impact 2026), WordStream
- Update your PAL integration for new limited ads behavior, Google Ads Developer Blog
- As industry awaits AI search ads, buyers scrutinize Google’s AI Max, Digiday
- Google virtual try on shopping feature adds new studio-quality images, Google Blog
- Shopify Launches A Product Network That Will Natively Integrate Items From Across Merchants, AdExchanger
- Why B2B Brands Are Shifting From Keywords to Performance Max, Group Twenty Seven
Search Features
- Chrome for iPhone rolling out built-in Gemini integration, 9to5Google
- Google Is Integrating Social Feeds Into The Search Results, Nectiv
- Google's Gemini AI comes to Chrome on iPhone and iPad, Engadget
- New in DiscoverSnoop: Track Social Posts in Discover, AI Summaries, New country & November Rankings, DiscoverSnoop
Other Search
- Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025, Pew Research Center
- Google Discover Publishers ranking in November 2025, DiscoverSnoop
Feedback:
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