Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Insights from Google’s Gary Illyes on AI Search and SEO
This interview with Google’s Gary Illyes reveals key insights into how AI models like Gemini integrate with search. AI-generated content can be high quality but requires human editorial review. Google’s AI features rely on the search index rather than live web fetches, and new controls on crawling and SEO practices are evolving. Additionally, social media metrics do not impact Google Search rankings, and AI-powered ads are expected soon.
Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding Google’s AI Search Innovations and SEO Implications
Key Developments in AI Search Technology
Gary Illyes from Google shared valuable details about the company’s AI-driven search enhancements, particularly focusing on the Gemini AI model. These AI systems utilize the existing Google Search index for grounding rather than live web crawling, ensuring stability and consistency in search results.
- Gemini and AI Modes: Use Google’s search index for data grounding;
- No live web fetches: AI does not pull real-time information from the internet;
- Site indexing controls: Disallowing Google Extended indexing prevents Gemini from using your site data;
- Crawling management: Efforts with Internet Engineering Task Force aim to improve crawl controls and address crawl budget concerns.
AI-Generated Content and SEO Best Practices
While AI can produce high-quality content, Gary emphasizes the importance of human review and editorial oversight to maintain accuracy and trustworthiness. Training AI on AI-generated content is not problematic for search algorithms, but quality assurance remains crucial.
Additional Insights on SEO and AI Integration
- Social Signals: Google Search does not factor in social media shares or metrics;
- Image SEO: Handling images requires resource allocation and attention to SEO;
- AI-powered Ads: New ad formats leveraging AI are anticipated to launch soon;
- SEO Strategy: Site owners should balance blocking AI indexing carefully, considering potential revenue opportunities.
