Google launches more visible links in AI Overviews and AI Mode
These links appear as pop ups as you hover your mouse over them.
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Barry Schwartz's latest articles
Google Search Console AI-powered configuration rolling out
This is now live for all users, so check it out.
Google previews WebMCP, a new protocol for AI agent interactions
Google's WebMCP protocol lets AI agents execute structured actions on websites via browser APIs. Is this the next frontier of technical SEO?
Google & Bing don’t recommend separate markdown pages for LLMs
This is a heated debate now, but it seems that the major search engines are not recommending this "strategy."
Google releases February 2026 Discover core update
Google’s Discover core update prioritizes locally relevant content based on a user’s country while reducing sensational and clickbait content.
Google lists Googlebot file limits for crawling
Google updated two of its help documents to clarify how much Googlebot can crawl.
Google: 75% of crawling issues come from two common URL mistakes
Gary Illyes says faceted navigation and action parameters dominate Google’s crawl waste, trapping bots in infinite URLs and straining servers.
Microsoft rolls out multi-turn search in Bing
Bing's new multi-turn search is now global. As you scroll, a Copilot box appears at the bottom so follow-ups build on the last query.
1/3rd of publishers say they will block Google Search AI-generative features like AI Overviews
42% said they would not block Google and 25% are still unsure.
Google may give sites a way to opt out of AI search generative features
You may soon be able to tell Google to not use your content for AI Overviews, AI Mode and other search AI features.
Bing Webmaster Tools testing new AI Performance report
Sadly, it does not show you clicks, so you still have no idea what your click-through rate is from AI search results.
Google AI Overviews follow up questions jump you directly to AI Mode
This will result in less traffic to your site and more traffic to Google's AI Mode. Plus, Gemini 3 is now powering all AI Overviews globally by default.
Yahoo debuts Scout, an AI search and companion experience
Yahoo Scout is Yahoo's come back to search, using AI, its massive network and data to give you a more fun AI search experience.
Google brings Personal Intelligence to AI Mode in Google Search
This is opt in via a Labs experiment and is rolling out over the next few days to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
Some Google AI Overviews now use Gemini 3 Pro
Complex queries now trigger Google’s most advanced model. It's now live in English globally.
Google Trends adds Gemini to Explore page
Google Trends now uses "Gemini capabilities to automatically identify and compare relevant trends for your area of interest," Google wrote.
Personal Intelligence with Gemini connect your searches, email, photos, and YouTube history
This is also coming to Google Search in AI Mode soon, Google added.
Google doesn’t want you to create bite-sized chunks of your content
Despite what you think works well for LLM and AI Search mentions, Google said this is not a long-term strategy.
Microsoft launches Copilot Checkout and Brand Agents
These new agentic experiences were showcased at the NRF 2026 conference.
Google tests blue Send button that replaces AI Mode in the search box
As you type your query, the AI Mode may disappear and show you a blue Send button in the Google Search box.
Google December 2025 core update rollout is now complete
This is the third core update of 2025 and it took over 18 days to complete.
Google algorithm updates 2025 in review: 3 core updates and 1 spam update
Google is confirming fewer and fewer search algorithm updates, but that doesn't mean there is less ranking volatility.
Microsoft Bing explains how duplicate content hurts AI search visibility
Duplicate or similar content on your site makes it hard for AI search engines to interpret your intent signals.
Google explains JavaScript execution on non-200 HTTP status codes
Google noted that if the HTTP status code is non-200 (for example, on error pages with 404 status code), rendering might be skipped.
Google fixed month-long delay with page indexing report
Google Search Console is once again sending out page indexing issue notifications as well.
Google Search adds read more links to search result snippets
Not all, but many of the search result snippets contain read more links that take you to sections of a web page.
Google clarifies canonicalization with JavaScript
Google added a section on canonicalization best practices for JavaScript to the JavaScript SEO best practices document.
Google says doing optimization for AI search is ‘the same’ as doing SEO for traditional search
Build great sites, great content, for your users, according to Nick Fox, SVP of Knowledge and Information at Google.
Google fixes weeks-long Search Console Performance report delay
After several weeks of delayed data, the report now appears to be fixed, with delays of two to six hours instead of more than 70.
Google says don’t use JavaScript to generate a noindex tag in the original page code
Google updated its JavaScript SEO basics documentation to clarify that may skip rendering and JavaScript execution.
Google December 2025 core update rolling out now
This was the third core update and fourth confirmed Google update in 2025. The December core update will take up to three weeks to rollout.
Google rolling out Preferred Sources globally and announces Spotlighting subscriptions
Spotlighting subscriptions are coming to Gemini first and then AI Mode and AI Overviews within Google Search.
Google updates links in AI Mode and expands Web Guide test in all tab
Google AI Mode now has more useful inline links while Google's expanded Web Guide is faster and surfaces smarter, deeper results.
Google Discover now less aligned with search rankings
This seems like a change to what content Google prioritizes for the Google Discover feed.
Google confirms it releases smaller, unannounced core updates
Plus, a major Google core update is coming soon, which could bring significant ranking changes as it rolls out.
Google Search Console performance reports adds weekly and monthly views
This lets you drive deeper giving you more granular data in the Search Console reports.
Google Search Console Insights integrating social channels
This is currently an experiment and rolling out to a limited number of sites.
Google Search Console tests “AI-powered configuration” to create dynamic reports
You can type what data you want to see on a report and Google will instantly create it for you.
Google Discover pushing users into AI Mode
When you read an article from Discover, Google wants you to switch to AI Mode. This also applies to any page you open in Google's Android app.
Google home page search bar upload feature goes directly to AI Mode results
It does feel like AI Mode will be Google's default search experience sometime in the future.