Google Tests AI Search Data, UK Requires Opt Out – SEO Pulse

Jun 05, 2026 07:30 PM - 5 hours ago 169

Welcome to the week’s Pulse: updates impact really you measurement AI hunt visibility, whether you tin opt retired of it, and really the completed halfway update reshaped rankings.

Here’s what matters for you and your work.

Google Adds AI Search Controls And Reports To Search Console

Google is testing 2 caller Search Console features for AI hunt visibility. A toggle lets you power whether your tract appears successful AI Overviews and AI Mode. Dedicated capacity reports show really your URLs look successful AI features crossed Search and Discover.

Key facts: The reports screen impressions, pages, countries, devices, and dates pinch hourly granularity. Click information isn’t included. Google says it’s moving pinch website owners to determine which metrics to adhd next. Both features are rolling retired to a subset of UK websites first.

Why This Matters

Until now, AI-driven visibility was bundled into modular Search Console information pinch nary measurement to isolate it. The caller reports springiness you a dedicated position of which pages appeared wrong AI answers and successful which countries.

Impressions show you really often your pages appeared, but not whether anyone clicked through. That spread has been the cardinal mobility successful AI hunt measurement for complete a year. This motorboat doesn’t adjacent it yet.

What SEO Professionals Are Saying

In a LinkedIn post, Glenn Gabe, President of G-Squared Interactive, wrote:

“AI reporting coming to GSC! Awesome! No click data. NOT Awesome.”

Read our afloat coverage: Google Tests Dedicated AI Search Reports In Search Console

UK Regulator Requires Google To Let Publishers Opt Out Of AI Search

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has imposed a behaviour request connected Google nether its integer markets regime. Publishers will beryllium capable to opt retired of having their contented utilized successful AI hunt features.

Key facts: Google must fto websites opt retired of AI Overviews and AI Mode, opting retired won’t wounded their position regular hunt results. Google must besides fto publishers opt retired of contented being utilized to train AI models. They person 9 months to comply

Why This Matters

This is the first clip a regulator has required the separation of AI-feature information from modular hunt indexing. Publishers person wanted this since AI Overviews launched. The only erstwhile action besides removed them from modular snippets.

Publishers successful the UK now person a regulatory backstop for controls that Google is providing voluntarily elsewhere. The CMA says it will denote further action connected Google’s hunt business successful the coming weeks.

What Search Industry Professionals Are Saying

In a LinkedIn post, Stuart Forrest, formerly Global SEO Director for Publishing astatine Bauer Media, wrote:

“The CMA has announced a triumph for publishers connected AI hunt but this is simply a triumph for Google.”

Todd Davies, Competition Law PhD Candidate astatine University College London, wrote:

“In my view, the expertise to opt-out is small much than a consolation prize for publishers.”

Read our afloat coverage: Google Must Let Websites Opt Out Of AI Search Features In UK

Google’s May 2026 Core Update Complete After Volatile Rollout

Google’s May halfway update vanished rolling retired connected June 2, lasting 11 days.

Key facts: Third-party search devices showed elevated volatility astatine respective points during the rollout. Google’s guidance suggests waiting astatine slightest a week aft a awesome update finishes earlier analyzing data.

Why This Matters

The update is the 4th confirmed introduction connected Google’s Search Status Dashboard this year. That’s astir 1 confirmed ranking-related arena each six weeks truthful far.

Some practitioners reported regaining accepted rankings while losing visibility successful AI-generated responses from the aforesaid update. That divided intends checking some surfaces, not conscionable integrated positions.

What SEO Professionals Are Saying

In a LinkedIn post, Aleyda Solís, SEO Consultant and Founder of Orainti, posted:

“Source type fresh mattered much than authority alone.”

Danielle Pardoe, AI Marketing and eCommerce Specialist, Founder of Infinity1 and TradieM8, commented:

“We’ve seen clients retrieve accepted rankings but still suffer AI reply placements from the aforesaid update.”

Read our afloat coverage: Google’s May Core Update Complete After Volatile Rollout

Google Launches Search Profiles For Creators

Google launched Search Profiles, a customizable page that pulls together a creator’s YouTube channels, societal accounts, and links successful 1 spot connected Google Search.

Key facts: Creators request astatine slightest 100,000 followers connected YouTube, Instagram, aliases X to beryllium eligible. TikTok requires 300,000. Search Profiles are presently disposable only successful the United States. Claiming a floor plan tin trigger the creation of a knowledge sheet aliases heighten an existing one.

Why This Matters

The floor plan besides serves to link group pinch much contented from the websites they follow. When you travel a patient done their profile, you whitethorn spot much of their contented successful Discover.

The 100,000-follower minimum leaves retired astir independent creators and mini publishers. That period limits the characteristic to established accounts, astatine slightest astatine launch.

Read our afloat coverage: Google Launches Search Profiles For Creators With 100K Followers

Theme Of The Week: AI Search Visibility Starts Getting Infrastructure

For complete a year, 2 questions person defined AI hunt for publishers. How do you cognize if you’re successful it, and tin you power whether you are?

This week delivered answers from 2 directions. Google began rolling retired dedicated AI capacity reports and testing an opt-out toggle successful Search Console. The UK imposed a ineligible responsibility connected Google. Between them, the infrastructure for managing your AI hunt beingness started moving from thought to reality, moreover if the devices are still constricted successful scope.

Top Stories Of The Week:

  • Google Tests Dedicated AI Search Reports In Search Console
  • Google Must Let Websites Opt Out Of AI Search Features In UK
  • Google’s May Core Update Complete After Volatile Rollout
  • Google Launches Search Profiles For Creators With 100K Followers

More Resources:

  • Google I/O Didn’t End SEO. The Risk Is Somewhere Else
  • Google AI Overviews Impact On Publishers & How To Adapt Into 2026
  • Google’s Preferred Sources Is Now A Global SEO Signal

Featured Image: PeopleImages/Shutterstock

Category SEO SEO Pulse
Follow Us On Google
More