This week was a huge week for search; between Google I/O and Google Marketing Live - it was just a lot. We had two unconfirmed Google ranking updates, one on I/O day and one on May 16th. Google announced AI Mode was live in the US and then announced a number of new features for AI Mode. Meanwhile, AI Mode links had a bug with tracking, it should be fixed soon, if not already. Google AI Overviews expanded to more and Google says it leads to 10% growth in queries. Google Ads are now on AI Mode and AI Overviews for desktop; no there is no control or transparency for advertisers. Google launched Smart Bidding Exploration. Google also launched many AI tools for Google Ads including Agentic capabilities. Google tests rolling out Google Discover on desktop again. Google added new documentation on using AI for content and AI search features. IndexNow works with product schema to help you keep your shopping data more up to date in Bing. Google Merchant Center recommends you use a product’s brand name in the title. Google test removing the site name from the snippet. Google AI Overviews tests hiding links and showing author names. Google Business Profiles has a name change bug. Google began migrating off its ccTLDs. Google AdSense has new anchor ad positions and new display options for ad intents. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
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Search Topics of Discussion:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 0:36 - Google I/O 2025 Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up
- 1:17 - Google Search Ranking Update Volatility May 16th
- 1:30 - Google AI Mode Live In US: Tests Deep Search, Live Search, Personalization, Custom Charts, Shopping & Agentic
- 5:52 - Google AI Mode Tracking Referrer Issue A Bug
- 6:07 - Google AI Overviews Expand Again & Lead To 10% Query Growth
- 7:27 - Google Ads Come To AI Mode & AI Overviews Desktop
- 8:14 - Google's Pichai: Search Ads With AI Overviews Earn Same As Ads Without
- 8:38 - New Google Ads Smart Bidding Exploration: Bidding Update
- 8:58 - Google Ads New AI Tools & Agentic Capabilities
- 9:38 - Google Begins Rolling Out Discover On Desktop
- 9:56 - New Google Docs On Using AI Generative Content & AI Search Features
- 10:22 - IndexNow Works With Product Schema; Shopify & Soon Amazon
- 10:46 - Google Merchant Center Now Recommends Product's Brand Name In Title
- 11:02 - Google Tests Removing Site Names From Search Results
- 11:15 - Google AI Overviews Tests Hidden Links
- 11:24 - Google AI Overviews With Author Names & Citations
- 11:33 - Google Business Profiles Bug Hides Right Knowledge Panel
- 11:50 - Spike In Google Business Profiles Name Changes?
- 12:08 - Google Search Begins Migrating Off Country Specific ccTLDs
- 12:35 - Google AdSense Anchor Ad Positions Setting
- 12:46 - Google AdSense Ad Intents New Display Ads Option
- 12:54 - Conclusion
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