Google AI Overviews With Font Strikethroughs
Here is a weird one – one person named Kunjal Chawhan spotted a Google AI Overview that had an HTML font strikethrough in the text. So it looks like Google is offering an answer, but it’s struck through as a false answer…
Google AI Mode Fan-Out Prompts To Narrow Your Query
Back in May, Google announced updates to shopping in AI Mode. One of those announcements is to help you narrow down your AI Mode results for shopping queries using query fan-out. Well, here is an example of that where Google AI Mode is prompting you t…
Google Search Team Does Not Endorse LLMs.txt Files
Yep, back on comments from Google on the LLMs.txt file. Another question came up on Bluesky asking if the fact that some Google properties still have the LLMs.txt files up, if that is some sort of endorsement from Google. John Mueller from Google said…
Poll: More Advertisers To Add Microsoft Advertising To Marketing Mix?
Navah Hopkins, the Microsoft Advertiser Ads Liaison, asked on LinkedIn if you will be adding Microsoft Advertising part of your marketing mix in 2026? The poll had over 200 responses, with most saying it is already included in that mix but 36% saying t…
Google AI Mode Shows Product Inventory & Pricing In Light Font Color
Google AI Mode is showing really light colored fonts for product pricing and inventory when you click on a product. This differs from the normal font type in the main Google Search results interface.
Daily Search Forum Recap: January 19, 2026
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.
OpenAI will be testing ads in ChatGPT very soon. Google’s Gemini 3 Pro now powers some AI Overviews…
Google AI Overviews Powered By Gemini 3 Pro For Complex Queries
Google announced late on Friday that Gemini 3 Pro is now powered Google AI Overviews for complex queries. Google actually said this last November, but then edited its story to say it was just AI Mode that was powered by Gemini 3 Pro and not AI Overview…
Google Is Appealing Its Search Monopoly Ruling & Asks To Pause Remedies
Google is appealing the ruling that it is an illegal search monopoly – which surprises no one. Plus, Google asked the court to pause the remedies during the appeal phase.
Google Warns On Hosting With Free Subdomain Hosts
Google’s John Mueller once again warned about hosting your website on free subdomain hosting service because they are magnets for a “lot of spam & low-effort content.”
OpenAI Will Soon Test Ads On ChatGPT
OpenAI announced on Friday it will begin testing ads in the ChatGPT responses in the coming weeks. The ads will show on the free product and low-cost subscription tier, ChatGPT Go. The ads will show under the main response and not influence the answer…
Google: Comments Link Spam Has No Effect On SEO/Search
Google’s John Mueller said that link spam left in the comments section have no effect on Google Search or SEO, (and maybe even your website’s performance in Google Search?). He wrote on Bluesky, “These links all have no effect – they’re from spammers d…
Google Search Ranking Volatility Hits January 15-16
I am seeing new signs of yet more Google Search ranking volatility and a possible tweak to the ranking search algorithm. Something kicked off yesterday, January 15th, that the third-party tools picked up on. With this update, there is limited chatter, …
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Personal Intelligence, Universal Commerce Protocol, Apple Picks Gemini & Ongoing Search Volatility
It is another week and more Google Search ranking volatility but this was a weird one. Google launched Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app and it is coming to AI Mode in Google Search. Google AI Mode new ad format…
Google To Prioritize Removing Prediction News Content From Search & News
Rajan Patel, the VP of Engineering for Search, said on X that Google is making “changes to ranking” to remove prediction content from showing up in the Google Search top stories and news sections. This comes after some sites are posting “prediction” c…
Google AI Overview Local Pack Leading To Huge Drops In Visibility
Over the past few weeks, Google has been showing AI Overviews for local packs, leading some businesses to see huge drops in visibility for their Google Business Profile and local listings. Some businesses are seeing 50% declines or more because of the …
Microsoft Advertising Adds Share Of Voice Metrics, Asset Group-Level URL Options, Customer Acquisition Goals…
Microsoft Advertising announced a slew of new features including new customer acquisition goals as an open beta, Share of voice (SOV) metrics, Asset group-level URL options and tracking templates, increased Search Theme limit, enhanced asset group impo…
Google Ads Campaign Total Budgets Live As An Open Beta
Google Ads has made the Campaign total budgets officially live as an open beta for any advertiser to sign up and use. Campaign total budgets are now available in Search, Performance Max and Shopping campaigns within Google Ads.
Google Ads Manual CPC Bid Selection Streamlined
Google Ads has reportedly streamlined the selection capability of Manual CPC bidding during the campaign setup. Now the option can be found under the “Conversions” goal, labeled as “Manually set bids.”
Google Ads A/B Tests Product Titles & Images For Shopping Ads
Google Ads is doing a limited test with some advertisers to allow them to run A/B tests with different product titles and images in Shopping Ads. Ginny Marvin, the Google Ads Liaison, said it is “currently being tested with a small number of merchants.”
Personal Intelligence In Gemini & Soon In Google Search AI Mode
Google is rolling out what it calls “Personal Intelligence” in the Gemini app and it will soon also come to Google Search within AI Mode. Google announced that Personal Intelligence in Gemini “connects Gmail, Photos, YouTube and Search in a single tap.”