Google Spam Update, AI Mode Changes, ChatGPT Does Use Google, Search Ad News & More

This week we had our first Google spam update in 8 months, the August 2025 spam update. This update touched down very quickly, likely within 24 hours. I also posted a Google search ranking volatility status report. Google is testing changes to AI Mode to encourage clicks. A new report says traditional search is not dying. A new survey says only 4% of searchers don’t click on links in AI Overviews. Some sites saw a huge decline in crawl rates in Google Search Console, this was a confirmed bug fixed by Google. Google Search Console’s performance report search appearance filter for Android Apps seems broken too. Google Ads PMax channel reporting is now on the account level. Google Ads get audience exclusions for Shopping campaigns. Google Ads has new loyalty goals. Microsoft responds to complaints over its Bing search ads being hard to see. Microsoft is also testing larger title fonts for its search ads over organic listings. Microsoft Advertising shared the dos and don’ts of suspensions and appeals. And I doubt Google is hiring a new Search Liaison. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.SPONSOR: This week's video is sponsored by Semrush. Discover Semrush's new AI-powered keyword research tools, offering personalized keyword difficulty, potential traffic estimates, and topical authority to help you plan smarter SEO campaigns.0:00 - Introduction 0:47 - Google August 2025 Spam Update Unleashed1:29 - Google August 2025 Spam Update Impact Felt Quickly2:35 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Status Report2:46 - Google: We're Testing Changes To AI Mode To Encourage Clicks4:10 - Sparktoro Research: Traditional Search Is Not Declining4:33 - Survey: Only 4% Of Searchers Don't Click From Google AI Overviews5:15 - Report: ChatGPT Using SerpApi To Scrape Google Search Results5:59 - Some Sites Have Huge Crawl Rate Declines In Google Search Console7:03 - Bug: Google Search Console Performance Report Search Appearance Android App7:31 - Google Ads PMax Channel Reporting On Account Level7:45 - Google Ads Gets Audience Exclusions For Shopping Campaigns8:10 - Loyalty Goal In Google Ads & More Merchant Center Loyalty Offerings8:44 - Microsoft Responds To Hard To See Search Ad Labels9:13 - Microsoft Testing Tests Larger Titles For Ads In Bing Search9:43 - Dos and Don'ts Of Microsoft Advertising Suspensions & Appeals10:05 - Is Google Hiring Another Search Liaison? Seems Unlikely.10:42 - Conclusion