Daily Search Forum Recap: September 23, 2026

Here is a recap of what happened in the hunt forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and another hunt forums on the web.

Google updated the leaf cognition records to add the new CrUX ad metrics data. UK's CMA wants Google to create it easier to choose an substitute hunt motor on Chrome and Android. New data shows that Google is showing far additional external links in its AI Overviews than before. Google Merchant Center is opting retailers into UCP native checkout. Google Ads is expanding admission to AI Briefs and additionally added new AI Max reporting. Google Ads added new assistance records on how to test AI Max against Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs) by using experiments. Microsoft is evaluation placing favicons on the Bing buying ads, merchandise results, carousel. Google has updated the localized versions of your leaf assistance document to alter all the hreflang examples from lowercase codes to uppercase codes. Google updated its assistance document to explain that you have four days to refuse a person suggested edit to your Google Business Profile. Google AdSense has lowered the character verification threshold from $10 to $0, according to an update to the assistance documentation.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Page Experience Docs Adds CrUX Ad Metrics
  Google has updated the understanding leaf cognition in Google Search results assistance document to add the new CrUX ad metrics which launched final week. To be clear, Google did not say this is a particular ranking indication for search, the CrUX ad metrics row was added to the "Page cognition resources" division of the document.
• Google AI Overviews With Way More External Links; Report
  New data shows that Google is showing far additional external links in its AI Overviews than before. A jump from near to 0% of AI Overviews containing external links to complete 25% of AI Overviews containing external links.
• CMA: Google Should Make It Easier To Choose Other Search Engine On Android & Chrome
  The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has projected new measures to power Google to create it easier for users of Google's Android and Chrome to use an substitute hunt motor or AI platform. This is "designed to provision millions of Google Android and Google Chrome customers in the UK greater choice and additional authority complete the hunt services they use," the CMA wrote.
• Google Merchant Center Auto Enables Native Checkout: Buy On AI Mode & Gemini
  Google is sending email notifications to Google Merchant Center users if their e-commerce phase supports Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and if so, telling them that "your products are now eligible for native checkout." This method that your eligible products are automatically included, so if you don't desire group purchasing immediately on Google, and you desire them to buy on your site, afterward you need to rotate it off.
• Google Ads New AI Max Reporting & AI Brief Expands To More Countries
  Google Ads is expanding admission to AI Briefs and additionally added new AI Max reporting. Google stated AI Brief spectators targeting plant now in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. Plus, there is a new AI Max reporting characteristic for looking at the Search Ads journey.
• Test Google Ads AI Max Against Dynamic Search Ads
  Google Ads added new assistance records on how to test AI Max against Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs) by using experiments. Google posted two options inside Google Ads experiments including (1) tradition experiments and (2) the test template.
• Bing Tests Favicons On Shopping Ads Carousel
  Microsoft is evaluation placing favicons on the Bing buying ads, merchandise results, carousel. Normally, this ad component fair shows the location name but Bing is evaluation adding favicons in forefront of the location name.
• Google Hreflang Examples To Uppercase Codes - But It Doesn't Matter
  Google has updated the localized versions of your leaf assistance document to alter all the hreflang examples from lowercase codes to uppercase codes. It doesn't matter since the hreflang value is case-insensitive; Google accepts lowercase and uppercase codes.
• Google Business Profiles Gives You Four Days To Reject User Edits
  Google updated its assistance document to explain that you have four days to refuse a person suggested edit to your Google Business Profile. If you do not refuse the edit inside four days, Google may use that edit to your Google local listing.
• Google AdSense Drops Identity Verification Threshold To $0
  Google AdSense has lowered the character verification threshold from $10 to $0, according to an update to the assistance documentation.
• Google Fun Event Of Sorts
  Google had this event anywhere they had these attack up toys akin enormous dart boards, jumping things and so on. Plus a juggler and additional all dressed up.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Since the admission threshold was 10k, I built a treemap visualization tool that tracks and maps the hunt profiles claimed by creators and publishers. I can display by followers, and we can see that the hunt overview alongside the most followers is Miley Cyrus alongside 341M. We additionally see, Damien Andell on X
• 5 reasons why I'm so skeptical of the complete AI tracking industry: 1) We cognize that AIs provision distinct answers all period they're asked the identical question. Different brands, distinct order, different…, Rand Fishkin on LinkedIn
• A affable reminder that @MSFTAdvertising has served ads since 2024 and empowers brands to market their products through Copilot Checkout. Free merchandise listings serving onward of ads alongside apparent labels = improved client experience., Microsoft Ads Buddy on X
• In the final 2 years, web traffic to news sites has fallen by concerning 28%., Paul Graham on X
• Google adds a "read more" nexus to the clarification of lengthy "search profiles" to authorize users to see additional information. I'll article a video in the comments showing how it looked before this "read more" link., Damien Andell on X
• That's correct. The update didn't power budget-limited campaigns that weren't using a target., AdsLiaison on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• CrUX ad metrics added to the leaf cognition SEO documentation
• Google opens native AI checkout to eligible Shopify merchants
• Google AI Overviews now appear in 39% of U.S. desktop searches
• Google Ads reframes Smart Bidding learning about 50 conversions
• Google Analytics adds hostname allowlists to combat spam traffic
• Google Ads to test gun accessory ads on Search in the U.S.
• How to use slay criteria to create improved SEO decisions
• Display ad expenses autumn onward of the holiday buying rush
• SEO attribution is motionless broken. Stop trying to create it perfect.
• Crawl budget: What you need to cognize in 2027
• Pagination and SEO: What you need to cognize in 2027

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Claude Opus 5.5 delivers Fable 5.1 achievement - and expenses 40% less, ZDNET
• Comscore's Latest AI Intelligence Report Shows Competition, Global News Wire
• Ex-Google safety chief warns AI could damage children additional than social media did, Reuters
• Introducing Claude Opus 5.5, Anthropic
• OpenAI Will Allow Third-Party Groups to Assess AI Model Safety Earlier, Bloomberg
• Trump says US is officially renaming AI ‘super intelligence’, The Verge
• Algorithms Don't Just Happen to Us — We Train Them., SparkToro
• Google's robotics component Intrinsic open-sources its foundational infrastructure for intelligent robots, SiliconANGLE
• Google.org supports Jigsaw’s Sensemaking AI, Google Blog
• Jev introduces a new form of LLM—System One, aka Decision Models, Simon Willison

Analytics

• Introducing Page Classification in Clarity Bot Activity - Understand your customers, Microsoft Clarity Blog
• How to Declutter Google Tag Manager for Better Data, KRM Digital Marketing

Industry & Business

• Google Appeals $425M Privacy Verdict, MediaPost
• Google faces UK shove to put AI assistants on Android, Chrome choice screens, Reuters
• Apple challenges OpenAI’s forensic inspection in commerce secrets case, 9to5Mac
• Google’s ad tech remedies attain as the phase battle moves to AI, Digiday

Links & Content Marketing

• The Always-On PR Report, Finchling
• Content Planning: How to Identify and Analyse Sector-Leading Content Using SISTRIX and Screaming Frog, SISTRIX

Local & Maps

• Google Maps glitch causes traffic anarchy on sole track road, BBC
• Android Auto rolls out equivalent support, no longer in beta, 9To5Google
• Apple Maps blurring alleged detention centers in China, Apple Insider
• Google Business Profile Quirks, Loopholes and Unintended Consequences, Online Ownership
• What's The Difference Between Google Maps And Google Earth?, BGR
• You Can Change Your Google Maps Car Icon Without Even Touching Your Phone, BGR

Other Search

• DOJ says sponsored financial institution links on Google and Bing helped scammers pilfer $14.6 million, The Cool Down
• Global AI Glasses Shipments Surge 263% YoY in H1 2026, alongside Display-less AI Glasses Accounting for 96% of Total, Counterpoint

PPC

• Offline Uploads Can Now Fill Missing User Data in Tag Conversions, PPC News Feed
• Google Updates Bid Strategy Learning Period to Around 50 Conversions, PPC News Feed
• Update to Legal Requirements Policy (September 2026) Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, and South Africa, Google Advertising Policies Help
• Comparing Broad Match, AI Max & Smart Bidding Exploration on Google Ads, JumpFly
• Google Ask Advisor Can Pause Campaigns, Change Budgets and Appeal Ads, PPC News Feed
• Search Terms View Renamed to Search Terms and Ad Combinations, PPC News Feed
• Google Ads for BFCM 2026: What 4,200+ Accounts Reveal, Optmyzr
• Microsoft Simplifies US Social Casino Ad Rules to Three Excluded States, PPC News Feed

SEO

• Do schema and organized data really matter for AI search?, Oncrawl
• If you can summarize your job in bullets, you're replaceable, SEO For Lunch
• Your AI SEO Needs "Value First" Strategies and Reporting, Joe Hall
• The Perfect Optimized Page For AEO (With Supporting Data), Nectiv
• Your Google Search Console queries need context, Suganthan

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