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Daily Search Forum Recap: February 17, 2026

02/17/26
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Google Search Forums Daily Recap: Key Updates on AI Overviews and Ads Features

Google highlights that enabling an opt-out option for AI Overviews is a complex engineering challenge. The new Results tab in Google Ads Recommendations allows advertisers to track performance impact. Google is enhancing AI Mode interactions with an overlay “Ask about” feature and testing clickable links in recipe AI Overviews. Additionally, AI Overview link icons change color from blue to gray after clicking, improving user experience.

Optimixed’s Overview: Significant Improvements and Testing in Google’s AI Features and Ads Platform

Google’s Engineering Challenges and Feature Enhancements

Google recently shared insights into ongoing developments within its AI-driven search and advertising products. A notable update is the acknowledgment that allowing websites to opt out of AI Overviews involves a huge engineering effort, highlighting the complexity behind AI integration in search results.

New Functionalities in Google Ads

  • The Results tab in Google Ads Recommendations now provides advertisers with the ability to view the direct performance impact after applying suggested optimizations, enhancing campaign management transparency.

Advancements in Google AI Mode and AI Overviews

  • The AI Mode “Ask about” feature is more accessible through a new overlay that triggers when users hover over products, streamlining user interaction.
  • Google is experimenting with embedded links in recipe AI Overviews, connecting users to additional AI-generated responses and hybrid knowledge panels.
  • AI Overview link icons are designed to change color from blue to gray upon clicking, providing a clear visual cue of user engagement.

Additional Context and Industry Developments

Beyond these updates, the recap touches on broader industry news including debates over AI privacy and regulation in the EU, health disclaimer concerns under AI-generated content, and evolving AI models from major companies like OpenAI and Microsoft. These discussions frame Google’s current innovations within a dynamic and rapidly evolving AI landscape.

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