Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of February 2026 Google Discover Core Update and Search Industry Highlights
The February 2026 Google Discover Core Update is rolling out in the US English market, impacting local search visibility. Bing has discontinued its problematic “Frankenstein” recipe feature due to user feedback. Google Ads is testing mixed campaign experiments to optimize advertiser performance. AI tools like ChatGPT continue to treat structured data as plain text, limiting SEO advantages from schema markup.
Optimixed’s Overview: Key Developments in Search and AI for Early 2026
Google Discover Core Update Focuses on US English Users
Google has launched its first core update of the year, targeting only the Google Discover feed and initially limited to US English audiences. This update, named the February 2026 Discover core update, will roll out over the next two weeks and is expected to expand globally later. It primarily affects content visibility in Discover, with a notable emphasis on local impacts.
Significant Changes in Search Features and AI Integration
- Bing’s Recipe Feature Removal: Bing has discontinued its AI-generated “Frankenstein” recipes after receiving negative reactions, reflecting growing scrutiny over AI-generated content quality.
- Google Ads Experimentation: Google Ads is expanding with mixed campaign type experiments, enabling advertisers to test multiple campaign strategies within a single experiment for better optimization.
- Google AI Mode Enhancements: Follow-up search suggestions are now appearing below AI Mode responses, improving user engagement and query refinement.
- Google Partner Portal Redesign: The partner portal for advertisers has been revamped for easier goal tracking and points management.
AI and Structured Data: Current SEO Implications
Despite advances in AI, leading large language models including ChatGPT and Perplexity do not utilize structured data markup differently from regular text. This suggests that schema.org implementations still hold standard SEO value, but do not yet provide additional advantages in AI-driven search interpretations.
Additional Industry Notes
- Ongoing volatility in Google search rankings persists without official commentary on recent unconfirmed updates.
- Innovations in AI search visibility monitoring and developer tools continue to emerge, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape.
- The industry community actively discusses ethical advertising and AI’s role in search quality assessments.
