Google Heated Spam Update, Web Declines, AI Mode Updates, AI Max Rolls Out & More

This week, I covered the ongoing Google August 2025 spam update and how it heated up this week. Google got into hot water over saying the web is rapidly declining. Google AI Mode also said AI Mode would be the default, and then backtracked on that statement as well. Google AI Mode expanded beyond the English language. Google is showing AI Mode in the search suggestions autocomplete. Google released an update to the search quality raters guidelines. Google Search Console dropped reporting on six structured data types. Google's John Mueller recommends using a traditional TLD, even if it includes hyphens. Google Ads rolls out AI Max to all, adds new ad features, Merchant Center updates, and asset studio AI improvements. Google Ads tests promotion mode, campaign total b budget and more. Google Ads has new AI Max metrics. Google Ads connects your website and app together for better reporting. Google is testing sponsored ads with multiple search refinements. Google Search is testing alternatives for people also search for. Google is testing replacing hotel reviews with the hotel’s phone number and website URL. A new report says almost all ChatGPT users also use Google, but not the other way around. Google was fined by the EU for $3.5 billion and said it needed to divest its ad tech business. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.Sponsored by Similarweb, the all-in-one- strategic SEO software. Step into the light and own the Gen AI Search Frontier. To learn more, check out Similarweb's new Gen-AI Intelligence tool and watch the video.0:00 - Introduction1:28 - Google August 2025 Spam Update Heats Up Again2:23 - New Google Court Doc: Open Web Is In Rapid Decline4:00 - Google AI Mode To Become Default For Google Search Soon (Maybe Not...)4:46 - Google AI Mode Now Supports Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese & English5:12 - Google Showing AI Mode In Autocomplete Search Suggestions5:26 - Google Search Quality Raters Guidelines Gains AI Overview & YMYL Definitions5:55 - Google Search Console Drops Support For 6 Deprecated Structured Data Types6:38 - Google: Go With Traditional TLD Even If You Need A Hyphen In Domain Name6:57 - Google Ads AI Max For Search Campaigns Globally Available & More7:44 - Google Ads Tests Promotion Mode, Campaign Total Budgets & More8:21 - Google Ads AI MAX Metrics: Expanded Matches & Expanded Landing Pages8:57 - Google Ads Connection To Your Web & App Advertising9:10 - Google Tests Sponsored Ads With Search Refinement Options9:28 - Google Search Tests Alternatives To People Also Search For9:46 - Google Tests Replacing Hotel Review Stars For Website & Phone Number10:05 - Report: Almost All ChatGPT Users Also Use Google10:29 - EU Fines Google $3.5 Billion; Must Divest Part Of Ad-Tech Business10:51 - Conclusion