Google Shopping Ask Stores AI Chat
Google seems to be testing or rolling out a new AI chat feature labeled “Ask Stores” within Google Shopping. The AI chat feature lets you “Ask about hard-to-find items, shopping, styling, home finds, trending pieces, brands, selling, and more.”
Google AI Mode Agentic Capabilities Opt In
On Friday, I reported on some folks gaining access to agentic features in AI Mode. Well, Robby Stein from Google announced later that day that anyone in the US can now opt into Agentic capabilities in AI Mode.
Google Business Profile Suspensions Spike
A number of local SEOs are noticing a lift in the number of suspensions they are dealing with in Google Business Profiles. Many local SEOs are reporting that they are dealing with these suspensions and reinstatements more often now than before.
Google To Remove More Lodging Listings With Inaccurate Prices
Google said it will be strict in enforcing accurate pricing for lodging listings on Google, both for ads and free booking links. There is no policy change but they will have a “higher standards for price accuracy.”
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 26, 2025
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.
The Google Ads sponsored results grouping interface expanded and it is borderline deceptive…
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Spam Update And Post Volatility, Cloudflare Fights AI Overviews, Sneaky Google Ads
This week we covered the completion of the Google August 2025 spam update and then we saw ranking volatility heat up again post spam update. Google Search Console impressions are impacted by Google blocking bots…
Google Ads New Campaign Set Up Screen Updated
Google Ads seems to be rolling out a change to the campaign set up screen and flow. Instead of being asked what ad format you want to run, you must select all for PMax or specific campaign types for display, search, discover and so on.
Google Local Pack At Top Of Google Shopping Tab
Google seems to be testing showing the local pack, Google Business Profile listings, at the top of the Google Shopping results in the Shopping tab. Normally, Google does not show local packs in the Shopping tab, I believe…
Google Large Sponsored Results Grouping Label Rolling Out To More
Back in May, we covered how Google was testing a new sponsored results label that placed a few ads beneath it, as opposed to labeling each and every ad as sponsored. Well, that version seems to be expanding and more and more people are seeing it and ma…
Google AI Mode Agentic Features Go Live For Some
A month ago, Google announced new agentic (agent based) features for AI Mode. Well, some are now seeing this live in AI Mode, specifically making reservations at recommended restaurants.
Google AdSense Dropping Session-Related Metrics
Google is sunsetting the session-related metrics for Google AdSense. Google said this includes all metrics that rely on ad sessions, such as “Ad sessions”, “Ad session RPM”, etc.
Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated After August Spam Update
Over the past couple of days, especially since the Google August 2025 spam update officially completed, the Google search results have been rumbling. It is a bit hard to track due to the changes with the third-party rank checking tools, but there has b…
Cloudflare Tries To Give Sites A Way To Block Google AI Overviews – Will It Work?
Cloudflare announced Content Signals Policy, a new addition to robots.txt that allows you to express your preferences for how your content can be used after it has been accessed. This aims to block Google from using your content in AI Overviews, but Go…
Google Ads Dishonest Pricing Practices Policy Updates
Google is updating the Google Ads Misrepresentation policy concerning Dishonest Pricing Practices. This will require advertisers to disclose the payment model or full expense that a user will incur before and after purchase, and clarify any false or mi…
Google Search Live No Longer Requires Labs Opt-In Within US
Google announced that Search Live is now fully live in the US and no longer requires opt in to Search Labs. In July, Google released it on mobile in the U.S. for users enrolled in the AI Mode Labs experiment but now it is open to everyone in the US in …
Google To Label Some Search Ads With “Not A Government Website”
Google updated its Other restricted businesses: Government documents and services policy to say it may label some search ads to say, “Not a government website.”
Bing Tests Colorful Lines In Search Results
Microsoft Bing is testing colorful lines and separator sections in the Bing Search results. The colors are in blue, orange and gray (and maybe more).
Bing Search Ads With Free Shipping Text Attributes
Microsoft is testing showing text attributes that can say things like “Free Shipping on Qualified Orders” with an icon next to the search ads on Bing Search. This is not just the CTA buttons that these ads have supported for a while but additional tex…
Google Search Tests Featured Stores Sponsored Ads Section
Google is testing a new sponsored ads section in the search results named Featured Stores. This reminds me of the from online stores but that was organic/free, not ads.
Google Search Testing Shaded Stock Price Interface
Google is testing a shaded box design for the stock pricing and information in the Google Search results. Google has these shaded designs in other areas as well but for now, this may just be a test.