Google Drops Search Features, Tests AI Mode Responses, Ad Click Trickery & More

Google dropped a number of search features and structured data types. Google is testing a new version of AI Mode. Google AI Mode gained three new agentic capabilities. Google AI Overviews continue to result in a drop in click-through rates, a report says. Google is testing replacing the definitions box with AI Overviews. Google’s John Mueller issued a PSA on verifying your cloud URLs with Search Console. Google and Bing are eating up Grokipedia. Google is testing a yellow-tinted parchment-like background for Google Search. I posted the monthly Google Webmaster Report. The new Google ads label is causing accidental clicks. Google ads Waze ads inventory to PMax campaigns and campaign reporting for PMax is fully available. Google Ads Editor version 2.11 is now out. Google Merchant Center added top performing products and audience targets for promotions. Google Merchant Center also added creative content section. Google Merchant Center has smart cropping, which you can opt out of. Google Maps added Gemini support to make it smarter. Google reviews is testing a new summary box. Reddit said its search traffic is flat, AI is not yet a traffic driver and Google makes up 50% of its search traffic. Raptive sued Google over using its data to cheat publishers. Google Discover is testing endless scrolling and I posted a number of ongoing Google Discover tests. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.Sponsor: BruceClay one of the founding fathers of the SEO space, doing search marketing optimization since 1996. Bruce Clay is big into SEO training, check out seotraining.com to learn more and check them out at bruceclay.com. Also, check out their new product, Prewriter.ai - this tool empowers writers to write better and more efficiently, so check it out.0:00 - Introduction0:57 - Google Drops Support For More Structured Data Types & Search Features2:19 - Google Tests A New Version Of AI Mode2:59 - Google AI Mode Gains 3 New Agentic Capabilities3:28 - Report: Google AI Overviews Continue To Drive CTR Downwards4:45 - Google Definitions Box Tests Swapping In AI Overviews5:10 - Google PSA: Verify Your Hosted Cloud Provider Host In Search Console5:46 - Google & Bing Are Indexing Grokipedia - AI Generated Wikipedia / Encyclopedia6:28 - Google Search Tests Tinted Colored Background6:54 - November 2025 Google Webmaster Report7:09 - The New Google Search Ad Layout Is Causing Accidental Clicks8:47 - Google Performance Max Gains Waze Ads & Channel Performance Reporting9:23 - Google Ads Editor Version 2.11 Is Now Available9:46 - Google Merchant Center Adds Promotions For Top Performing Products10:08 - New Google Merchant Center Preferred Audience Targeting For Promotions10:22 - Google Merchant Center Adds Creative Content Section10:33 - Google Merchant Center Smart Cropping - You Can Opt Out11:02 - Gemini Coming To Google Maps For Directions, Traffic & Places11:49 - Google Reviews Updates Services Summary Box12:08 - Reddit: Search Traffic Flat, AI Not Traffic Driver & 50% Of Traffic Is From Google12:41 - Publishers Say Google Used Their Data to Cheat Them, Raptive Lawsuit13:15 - Google Discover Tests Infinite Endless Scroll13:30 - Google Discover Numerous Experiments Documented13:50 - Conclusion