Google Search Volatility, AI Mode Taking Over Search, Search Console AI Configurator & 22 Year Anniversary

This week, we, of course, covered the ongoing Google Search ranking volatility. Google is now blending AI Mode directly into AI Overviews. Google’s home page search bar added a new upload feature to take you into AI Mode. Google Discover and the mobile app also take you off web pages and into AI Mode. Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro are now available in AI Mode in more countries. Google AI Mode is testing hover style inlines. Google Search Console’s performance report is testing an AI-powered configuration tool for making reports. Google Search Console also added current dates to the annotation feature. Google API docs hint that service areas are not a ranking factor. Google added and then removed the LLMs.txt file from its search developer docs. I posted the big Google Webmaster Report for December 2025. Google Ads channel reporting with search partner data for PMax is rolling out for some. Google Ads may bring back website optimizer. Microsoft Advertising now has disapprovals on the asset-level, and conversion reports are faster. And I celebrated 22 years of covering the search industry - I am old. 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 - Introduction0:58 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up December 3rd & 4th1:42 - Google Officially Tests Blending AI Mode Into AI Overviews2:34 - Google Search Bar Adds Upload Image/File That Goes To AI Mode2:58 - Google Discover Tests Top Searches Widget Leading To AI Mode3:20 - Google Discover Gains AI Mode Features3:43 - Google Rolls Out Gemini 3 & Nano Banana Pro In AI Mode To More4:00 - Google AI Mode Tests Hover Style Inline Links4:29 - Google Search Console Performance Report Tests AI Powered Configurator5:19 - Google Search Console Annotations Now Allows Current/Future Dates5:41 - Google Search Console Average Impression Increased For Many7:16 - Google API Doc Hints Service Areas Not A Local Ranking Factor7:46 - Google Adds LLMs.txt To Search Developer Docs Portal8:21 - December 2025 Google Webmaster Report8:36 - Google Ads Channel Reporting For PMax Rolling Out To Some9:02 - Google Ads To Resurrect Website Optimizer?9:26 - Microsoft Ad Disapprovals On Asset Level & Conversion Reporting Update9:50 - 22 Years Covering The Search Industry10:32 - Conclusion