Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

In this week's recap, we covered that the Google December 2025 core update was unleashed. Google also said more core updates are definitely on their way and one should be coming soon Google also updated its documentation to reiterate that it does, in fact, release unannounced, smaller core updates more regularly. Meanwhile, we saw a lot of Google search ranking volatility this weekend and during the week, maybe a baby core update. Google said Discover is minimally aligned to search rankings, which may be why there is so much spam in Google Discover. Google Search Console added weekly and monthly smoothing to charts. Google Search Console insights added social channels. Google Shopping crawlers crawl too fast for JavaScript-generated structured data to be rendered. Google AI Mode links were updated to encourage clicks, and it also added contextual introductions. Google Preferred Sources is now global, and Google is spotlighting subscriptions starting with Gemini and Google AI Mode and AI Overviews later. Google Web Guide expanded to the all tab for those who opt in. Google News is experimenting with AI-powered article overviews. Google AI Mode tests Search Live with citation cards. OpenAI updated its ChatGPT crawler documentation. Bing is testing a hide/show sponsored results button with ad grouping. Bing is testing ad labels on the right side. Bing is also testing an expandable favicon on hover. Google is testing image animations on its search ads. Google Ads contact us forum tests integrating Ads Advisor. Google Ads had an offline conversion upload bug. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

0:54 - Google December 2025 Core Update Is Rolling Out - You Surprised?

1:38 - Google Search Still Working On New Core Update; Update Should Be Soon

2:11 - Google Updates Docs: We Do Smaller Core Updates Without Announcements

3:05 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated Over This Past Weekend

3:43 - Google: Discover Minimally Aligned To Search Ranking

4:52 - Google Search Console Adds Weekly & Monthly Views Granular Data

5:09 - Google Search Console Insights Adds Social Channels

6:02 - Google Shopping Crawlers Are Too Fast For JavaScript Generated Structured Data

6:55 - Google AI Mode Links Updated & Adds Contextual Introductions

7:23 - Google Preferred Sources Now Global & Adds Spotlighting Subscriptions

8:05 - Google Web Guide Expands To All Tab Officially (Opt In Still Needed)

8:24 - Google News AI-Powered Article Overviews Go Live For Some Publishers

8:50 - Google AI Mode Tests Search Live (Voice) With Citation Cards

9:11 - Google Gemini Local Results In Visual Formats

9:27 - OpenAI Updates Its ChatGPT Crawler: OAI-SearchBot

10:00 - Bing Tests Hide Sponsored Results Button & Ad Grouping, Like Google Ads

10:31 - Bing Search Ads Tests Ad Labels On Right

10:42  - Bing Tests Expandable Favicon On Hover Over

10:52 - Google Tests Image Animation For Search Ads

11:08 - Google Ads Contact Us Support Tests Integrating Ads Advisor

11:21 - Google Ads Offline Conversion Uploads Bug Being Worked On

11:48 - Conclusion 

Today we covered Bing testing ad grouping with the hide/show ad buttons. Google Web Guide is now in the all tab. Google AI mode updates links and adds contextual introductions.   Google preferred sources is now global and adds spotlighting subscriptions in Gemini, and coming soon to AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google launches natural language Developer Assistant for Google Ads API. And Shopify launches a product network that will natively integrate items from across merchants.

0:00 - Introduction

2:04 - Google Web Guide in the all tab

4:59 - Google AI mode tests new and updated links and new contextual introductions

6:02 - Google Preferred Sources is global now and also spotlighting subscriptions

8:14 - Bing Ads grouping and hide ads button

10:47 - Google natural language Developer Assistant for Ads API

11:58 - Shopify Product Network

15:28 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered OpenAI's small (but important) changes to OAI-SearchBot & what it means for marketers. Additionally we covered the news that ads were reportedly coming to the Google Gemini App, just to have that rumor abrupty shut down by Dan Taylor from Google. Lastly, our breaking news correspondent - Barry Schwartz - has new date range news for Google Search Console.0:00 - Introduction1:06 - Google Gemini reportedly getting ads? Not so fast!3:36 - Mordy makes a joke!4:19 - Big changes to OAI-SearchBot6:53 - New date range reporting is coming to Google Search Console8:53 - Gen-Z slang trivia with MordyA daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered Google search ranking volatility heating, while Search Console reporting is still incredibly delayed but Google introduced an AI-powered configuration. Google Search Console Insights report gains social channels.  Business Insider to post AI generated quick news stories as a test.  Google Merchant Center new regional member pricing beta is out. Google is testing image animation for search ads.

0:00 - Introduction

0:44 - Google search ranking volatility heated

0:52 - Google Search Console still reporting delayed

1:14 - Google Search Console AI-powered configuration

2:04 - Google Search Console Insights report gains social channels

2:56 - Business Insider to post AI generated news stories

5:39 - Google Merchant Center has new regional member pricing

6:28 - Google is testing image animation for search ads

8:00 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

This week, we, of course, covered the ongoing Google Search ranking volatility. Google is now blending AI Mode directly into AI Overviews. Google’s home page search bar added a new upload feature to take you into AI Mode. Google Discover and the mobile app also take you off web pages and into AI Mode. Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro are now available in AI Mode in more countries. Google AI Mode is testing hover style inlines. Google Search Console’s performance report is testing an AI-powered configuration tool for making reports. Google Search Console also added current dates to the annotation feature. Google API docs hint that service areas are not a ranking factor. Google added and then removed the LLMs.txt file from its search developer docs. I posted the big Google Webmaster Report for December 2025. Google Ads channel reporting with search partner data for PMax is rolling out for some. Google Ads may bring back website optimizer. Microsoft Advertising now has disapprovals on the asset-level, and conversion reports are faster. And I celebrated 22 years of covering the search industry - I am old. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

0:58 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up December 3rd & 4th

1:42 - Google Officially Tests Blending AI Mode Into AI Overviews

2:34 - Google Search Bar Adds Upload Image/File That Goes To AI Mode

2:58 - Google Discover Tests Top Searches Widget Leading To AI Mode

3:20 - Google Discover Gains AI Mode Features

3:43 - Google Rolls Out Gemini 3 & Nano Banana Pro In AI Mode To More

4:00 - Google AI Mode Tests Hover Style Inline Links

4:29 - Google Search Console Performance Report Tests AI Powered Configurator

5:19 - Google Search Console Annotations Now Allows Current/Future Dates

5:41 - Google Search Console Average Impression Increased For Many

7:16 - Google API Doc Hints Service Areas Not A Local Ranking Factor

7:46 - Google Adds LLMs.txt To Search Developer Docs Portal

8:21 - December 2025 Google Webmaster Report

8:36 - Google Ads Channel Reporting For PMax Rolling Out To Some

9:02 - Google Ads To Resurrect Website Optimizer?

9:26 - Microsoft Ad Disapprovals On Asset Level & Conversion Reporting Update

9:50 - 22 Years Covering The Search Industry

10:32 - Conclusion

Today we covered ongoing Google search ranking volatility, while Search Console reporting is super delayed. Google Discover and Android app is also pushing users into Google AI Mode.

0:00 - Introduction

0:46 - Google search ranking volatility

1:21 - Google Search Console reporting delayed

2:04 - Google Discover and Android app pushing AI Mode

3:24 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered how Google updates its home page search bar file upload to go directly to AI Mode. Google added an LLMs.txt file to its search developer site. Black Friday ad costs are rising. And OpenAI calls a code red. 

0:00 - Introduction

1:54 - Google’s search bar file upload goes to AI Mode

3:58 - Google added an LLMs.txt file to their site

5:53 - Black Friday ad cost 

7:17 - OpenAI ChatGPT code red

9:52 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered the 22nd year anniversary of the Search Engine Roundtable. Google is blending AI Mode into the AI Overviews within Google Search. Gemini 3 in AI Mode expands to 120 countries in English.  We also spoke about large video files and Google SEO. Google Ads channel reporting for PMax rolling out.  Google Ads partner match and more.

0:00 - Introduction

1:55 - Search Engine Roundtable Turns 22 Years Old

4:51 - Google blends AI Mode into AI Overviews

6:35 - Google expands Gemini 3 in AI Mode to more countries

8:09 - Large video files and Google SEO

9:36 - Google Ads channel reporting in PMax

10:50 - Google Ads partner match

11:39 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered Google Search Console’s page indexing report delay and you can now add current date annotations.  We are seeing really big ranking volatility in Google over the past Thanksgiving week. The Gemini app will get a big UX update. Google Ads Advisor may mix up client accounts in MCC accounts. Microsoft Advertising quietly adds a few features. 

0:00 - Introduction

1:38 - Google Search Console’s page indexing report delay

2:22 - Google Search Console annotations update

2:55 - Google Thanksgiving week search volatility 

3:46 - Gemini App to get big UX update

5:15 - Google Ads Advisor crosses wires with MCC accounts

7:53 - Microsoft Advertising quietly adds a few features

8:56 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

We are seeing volatility in the Google search results this week, Thanksgiving week. Google Ads accounts are being hijacked and it is super concerning. Gemini 3 now powers Google AI Mode for more complex queries, automatically. Google’s Web Guide is showing up more often in the All tab. Google’s Gary Illyes said AI Search change is hard to change. Google’s John Mueller said in the future SEOs will offer GEO-detox work. Google local pack results more button leads to the Places tab and then bugs out. Google Local Service Ads is testing removing the more results button. Google Ads tab gets support for fix custom views, it also got a new trends report and performance by stage report. Google Ads message assets now supports Facebook Messenger and Zalo. Google Ads Advisor may be taxing context from across multiple clients. Microsoft Advertising mobile app is being retired. Google Business Profiles admin panel is not showing up for some. Google Posts launched scheduling and multi-location publishing. Google Hotel Center is reinstating suspended hotels. OpenAI launched shopping research assistant in ChatGPT. Google’s Sundar Pichai monitors X on launch days. Google’s Thanksgiving Doodle links to AI Mode and not search results. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.

0:00 - Introduction

0:37 - Thanksgiving Google Search Ranking Update Volatility

1:30 - Google Ads Account Hijacks On The Rise?

4:00 - Gemini 3 Now Powering Google AI Mode For Some Queries, Automatically

4:43 - Google Web Guide Shows In All Tab For More Searchers

5:22 - Google's Gary Illyes On AI Search: The Change Is Hard To Accept

6:06 - Google's John Mueller Jokes On Future GEO-Detox SEO Billable Work

6:41 - Google: Rewriting AI Content With Human Content Won't Lead To Recovery

7:45 - Google Local Pack Links To Places Tab With Pagination Bug

8:10 - Google Local Service Ads Tests Removing More Results Button

8:33 - Google Ads Overview Tab Gets Supports Custom Views

8:54 - Google Ads Overview Tab Gains Trends & Performance By Stage

9:15 - Google Ads Gains Facebook Messenger & Zalo Messenger

9:35 - Google Ads Advisor May Take Context From Other MCC Client Chats

10:25 - Microsoft Advertising Mobile App To Be Retired

10:53 - Google Business Profile Admin Panel Not Showing Up For Some

11:38 - Google Post Launched Scheduling & Multi-Location Publishing

12:05 - Google Hotel Center Is Reinstating Suspended Hotels

12:39 - Shopping Research Assistant In ChatGPT

12:59 - Google's Sundar Pichai Monitors X On Launch Days For Feedback

13:19 - Clicking Google's Thanksgiving Doodle Goes To AI Mode

14:02 - Conclusion