Google AI Systems Black Box, Links In AI, UCP Checkout Expands, ChatGPT Ad Manager, Ask.com Shutters & More

This week in search we covered more heated Google ranking volatility this morning, it seems big - so stay tuned. We also covered how Google spoke about how they try to isolate their AI systems because they tend to be a black box and hard to debug. Google improves links within AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google expands UCP-powered checkout to the mains search results. Google Search Console kind of fixed its 50 week data reporting bug. Google may have to adjust its site reputation abuse policy for EU news sites. Google AdSense will drop the back button trigger for vignette ads due to the upcoming search penalty. Google has a new way to authenticate bots named Web Bot Auth. Google is testing a “Fresh updates” label in the search results. Bing spoke about search indexing versus grounding indexing. Bing said its 1 billion monthly active users are humans, not bots. Google Ads to expand smart bidding exploration and budgeting pacing to Shopping campaigns. Google Ads will require passkeys for certain sensitive actions. Google Ads has a new use AI to add products feature. Google Ads AI Max content and title exclusions are going to the account level. Google Ads updated its data retention policy. Google Ads call recording will be on by default. OpenAI officially launched its ChatGPT Ad Manager tool. ChatGPT Ads click-through rates aren’t that bad. Google Business Profiles suspensions spike over user restrictions. Bing Places for Business is finally mobile friendly. Ask.com has shut down its search engine after almost 30 years. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.Sponsor: Ahrefs - Have you seen Ahrefs' new Agent A - a tool that gives you the reports and insights you need, right as you need them. Agent A lets you build your own reporting tools through this AI powered platform, and you don’t need to know any coding or data analysis information. So if you want to know which of my blog posts have the most untapped potential for more traffic, just ask it and it will use Ahrefs’ deep integration and powerful AI tools to dynamically built the report for you. It is slick and fun, so check it out at ahrefs.com/agent-a.0:00 - Introduction1:06 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated Today - May 8th1:43 - Google On AI Overviews & AI Mode Being Isolated Systems (Or Not)2:45 - Google Improves Links Within AI Mode & AI Overviews In 5 Ways4:08 - Google Expands UCP Checkout To Main Search Results4:28 - Google Search Console Fixed The 50 Week Data Logging Issue5:10 - Google May Adjust Its Site Reputation Abuse Policy For EU News Sites6:21 - Google AdSense Vignette Ads Drops Back Button Trigger Over Hijack Penalty6:48 - Google Web Bot Auth: Validate Authentic Bots7:07 - Google Tests Fresh Updates Label For Search Snippets7:16 - Microsoft Bing On Search Indexing vs. Grounding Indexing8:09 - Bing: 1 Billion Monthly Users Are Human, Not Agents8:26 - Google Ads To Expand Smart Bidding Exploration & Budget Pacing8:44 - Google Ads To Require Passkey For Certain Sensitive Actions After July 158:53 - Google Ads Adds Use AI To Add Products9:15 - Google Ads AI Max Content & Titles Exclusions On Account Level Coming9:53 - Google Ads Data Retention Policy Updated10:15 - Google Ads Call Recording To Default To Yes On July 1st10:30 - Official: OpenAI Beta Self-Serve Ads Manager For ChatGPT Ads11:00 - Similarweb Data: ChatGPT Ads Click-Through Rates11:21 - Google Business Profile Suspensions Spike Over User Account Restrictions11:36 - Bing Places For Business Finally Mobile Friendly11:47 - Ask.com Shut Down After Almost 30 Years12:13 - Conclusion