Google May Core Update Status, Buying AI Brand Mentions, Preferred Sources In AI Responses, Google Ads, Local, Legal & More

This week in search, we gave a status update on the Google May 2026 core update. Google strongly warned against buying mentions for AI or manipulating mentions for AI. Google removed the indexing lag between search and AI responses. Google Discover report bug caused a drop in clicks and impressions on May 21. There are video interviews with Google’s Sundar Pichai and Nick Fox. Google is testing a new favicon and sitename layout in search. John Mueller said Google’s search quality raters guidelines are not a guide for search rankings. Google Ads has new real-time policy reviews during the ad creation process. Google Ads will delete shorter-term data starting June 1st. Google Ads has this new prospect mode, for cold leads. Google is testing growing shopping ads. Google AI Mode tests new styles for shopping ads. Google Merchant Center has a new AI performance insights report. Google Merchant Center has conversational attributes for AI responses. Google Local is testing real-time stock buttons. Google Business Profiles adds view counts to images and videos. Bing has really released the AI-curated image interface. Similarweb says ChatGPT is showing more links, which is leading to a 150% increase in referrals. Google officially appealed the monopoly ruling. And the EU may fine Google in the triple-digit millions over favoring its own services in its search results. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.SPONSOR: This episode is sponsored by ADSQUIRE, known recently for being the first ad agency to get a lawyer advertisement to show on ChatGPT.0:00 - Introduction1:48 - Google May 2026 Core Update Landed Over The Weekend2:38 - Google Strongly Warns Against Manipulating Mentions For AI3:45 - Google Removes Lag For AI Overviews & AI Mode Showing Penalized Content4:16 - Google AI Mode & AI Overviews Add Preferred Sources & New Carousel5:06 - Google Discover Report Bug Cause Decrease In Clicks/Impressions May 215:34 - Interviews Of Google's Sundar Pichai & Nick Fox6:07 - Google Tests New Sitename & Favicon Layout In Search6:24 - Google: Search Quality Raters Guidelines Not A Guide For Search Rankings7:13 - Google Ads Real-Time Policy Reviews During Ad Creation7:29 - Google Ads To Delete Short Term Performance Data June 1st8:18 - New: Google Ads Prospects Mode8:41 - Google Tests Growing Expanding Shopping Ads8:56 - Google Shopping Ads In AI Mode Tries New Styles?9:19 - New Google Merchant Center AI Performance Insights9:47 - Google Merchant Center Conversational Attributes For AI-Driven Surfaces10:11 - Google Local Results Tests Check Real-Time Stock10:34 - Google Business Profiles Photos / Videos Add View Counts10:50 - Bing Officially Releases AI Guided Image Search Experience11:11 - Similarweb: ChatGPT Shows More Links Leading To 150% Increase In Referrals11:27 - Google Officially Appeals Search Monopoly Ruling11:54 - EU May Fine Google Triple Million Euros Over Favoring Itself In Search Results12:23 - Conclusion