Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Weekly Search Engine Updates: Google Discover, Bing, and AI Innovations
This week’s search news highlights significant **Google Discover core update** competition and ongoing **Google Search volatility**. Google experienced temporary **serving issues** and is experimenting with **vertical search services** in the EU. Key updates include **Microsoft’s Bing Webmaster Guideline revisions**, AI-driven enhancements, and new tools for **Google Business Profiles** and **Google Ads**.
Optimixed’s Overview: Essential Insights Into Recent Developments in Search Engines and AI Integration
Google Search and Discover Updates
Google is actively refining its search ecosystem with several notable changes and tests:
- Introduction of a new Google Discover core update, affecting content competition and visibility.
- Brief disruptions in Google Search serving, though Google confirms a spike in impressions does not impact search quality.
- Testing of vertical search services alongside Google’s own results in the European Union, enhancing user options.
- Google Search Console’s indexing report currently missing some data, highlighting ongoing backend adjustments.
- Refinements in utilizing sitemaps, where Google refrains from using them unless new or significant content is detected.
- Local panel enhancements now show AI-generated services for certain businesses, alongside the addition of recurring scheduled Google Posts.
Microsoft Bing and AI Developments
Microsoft has also made strides in improving the Bing platform and AI safety:
- Updated Bing Webmaster Guidelines to better guide site owners and SEO professionals.
- Revamped the user interface for Bing AI responses, including improved link presentation.
- Implemented measures to prevent AI prompt injection attacks, securing the integrity of AI-driven search interactions.
- Introduced self-service negative keyword lists within Microsoft Advertising, enhancing campaign control.
- Testing a new shopping carousel with multiple image toggles to boost user engagement and product visibility.
Additional Industry Updates
- Anthropic launched an update to its web crawlers, reflecting ongoing advancements in AI-powered indexing.
- Google Ads rolled out comprehensive text guidelines within its AI Max platform and released API version 23.1.
- Google Ads support now requires explicit account authorization for assistance requests, improving security.
- Google is experimenting with removing article dates from Discover feed cards, potentially impacting content freshness perception.
These developments collectively underscore a dynamic period in search engine optimization, AI integration, and advertising platform enhancements, offering marketers and webmasters new tools and challenges to navigate.
