Google Rolls Out September 2026 Spam Update Globally
Google's fourth spam update of 2026 began Sept. 24 at 9:15 a.m. PDT, applies globally to all languages, and may take up to two weeks to complete.
Topic: Google
Google Admits Search Console Can't Track AI Overviews Properly
Google's John Mueller admits Search Console flattens AI Overviews into one block, giving every link position 1 — while AI answers cut organic clicks by up to 38%.
Google's New R4T-Diffusion Model Cuts Query Fan-Out Latency by Up to 20x
Google's R4T-Diffusion model cuts query fan-out latency by 12 to 20x, delivering production-ready search at a fraction of the computational cost of autoregressive methods.
Publishers Grade Google Ad Tech Remedies: Progress, Not a Clean Win
Seven publisher and sell-side execs rate the DOJ's Google ad tech remedies from 1 to 10, finding measures like opening AdX promising on paper but doubtful in practice.
Chris Green Maps the Data Sources Feeding AI Search Results
Chris Green tiers the data sources behind AI search, from confirmed Google Search grounding and Yelp bookings to a $60m Reddit training deal marketers should treat as unstable.
Google Keeps AdX as Court Rejects Breakup in Ad-Tech Case
A federal court rejected the DOJ's push to make Google divest AdX. Behavioral remedies remain, with the full opinion due to be unsealed in two weeks.
Google Tests AI Payments, Drops Search Profile Bar to 10,000
Google pilots payments for AI content contributions, cuts Search profile eligibility to 10,000 followers, and Mueller admits AI position reporting falls short.
Field Experiment: Google AI Mode Cuts Clicks and Degrades UX
A seven-day randomized field experiment tracking 1,100 users found Google AI Mode cuts clicks to websites, reduces search sessions and lowers user satisfaction.
Google Ad Tech Ruling: Who Wins and Loses From the Final Remedies
Google keeps AdX and DfP as remedies regulate auctions, not ownership. Rival exchanges gain Prebid access, the DOJ sets a template, and CTV and retail media get nothing.
Google Ad Tech Remedies: A Code of Conduct, Not a Breakup
Judge Brinkema rejected breaking up Google's ad tech business. The final remedy: a code of conduct after 17 months of post-verdict wrangling. Some changes will take years.
Publishers Brace for Limited Relief in Google Ad Tech Remedies
Google's ad tech monopoly trial has ended, and the court's behavioral remedies are unsealed. Publishers call the relief too little, too late — but will take what they can get.
Job Boards Report Months of Silence on Google Indexing API Approval
Job site operators report months without a response to Google Indexing API approval requests, despite Google's docs still recommending the API for job posting URLs.
