Google Search, SEO & AI
News, research, updates and analysis about Google Search, AI Overviews, AI Mode, ranking systems, indexing and the evolution of search.
Stay ahead of SEO & AI Search.
Follow the topics that matter to you. Get relevant new articles by email every 8 hours.
Create Free Alerts Free to join · Choose your topics · Unsubscribe anytime
Nano Banana 2.1 Reaches Google AI Mode: Search Expands Image Creation
Google has started rolling out Nano Banana 2.1 in AI Mode in Search, bringing its latest image-generation and editing model into another part of Google's search experience. On Octo...
Read more →
Google Opens Self-Service Conversion Lift Studies to Search and Performance Max Advertisers
Google Ads has updated its Conversion Lift documentation to let eligible advertisers set up studies themselves, including for Search and Performance Max campaigns. The change was r...
Read more →
Google Ads Adds AI Max Reporting Columns: New Visibility Into Brand Inclusion and Automated Targeting
Four reporting column options have been spotted in Google Ads: Brand Inclusions, Locations of Interest, Commission and Optimized Targeting. The interface change was documented in s...
Read more →
Healthcare Review Stars Are Disappearing From Google: Schema App Detects a Sustained Rich Result Decline
Healthcare websites have experienced a substantial decline in Google review rich result visibility, according to observations shared by Schema App and reported on October 7, 2026.....
Read more →
Google Adds WhatsApp to Local Search Panels: Business Profiles Gain Another Direct Contact Channel
Google is showing WhatsApp contact buttons in some local business panels, placing the messaging option alongside familiar actions such as calling a business, getting directions and...
Read more →
Google AI Overviews Tests Add to Calendar: AI Answers Are Becoming Actionable Search Results
Some Google AI Overviews and AI Mode responses have been spotted displaying an “Add to Calendar” link that could help users save event details directly from an AI-generated search....
Read more →
Google Merchant Center Launches UCP Integration Hub: AI Mode and Gemini Move Closer to Direct Checkout
Google is rolling out a Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) Integration Hub inside Merchant Center for merchants in the United States. Reported on October 7, 2026, the new integratio...
Read more →
Google Search Console Adds Visibility Into Subdomain Overrides for AI Search Inclusion Controls
Google Search Console has clarified how domain-property owners can identify differences in Search generative AI control settings across child properties. According to a documentati...
Read more →
Google Search Console Adds Multi-Country Performance Filters: International SEO Reporting Gets More Flexible
Google Search Console now lets users select multiple countries at the same time in Performance reports, making it easier to analyze search traffic across groups of international ma...
Read more →
Google Clarifies Main Content: Interactive Tools, UGC and Expandable Sections Matter to Page Purpose
Google Search Central has clarified that the main content of a page can extend well beyond its paragraphs and images. Depending on the page's purpose, interactive tools, reviews, d...
Read more →
Google Explicitly Warns Against Fake Authors and AI-Generated Expert Profiles: Authorship Authenticity Matters
Google Search Central's helpful content guidance warns publishers against misleading author identities, AI-generated portraits presented as photographs of real people and fabricate...
Read more →