SEO Pulse: AI Mode Hits 75M Users, Gemini 3 Flash Launches
This week’s SEO Pulse covers the signals that matter most as AI search moves from experimentation to core infrastructure.
About
Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s degree in communications, Matt specializes in gathering details, checking facts, and making complex subjects easy to understand. In addition to writing articles, Matt oversees strategy development for SEJ’s news department.
Articles
Google’s AI Mode Personal Context Features “Still To Come”
Google SVP Nick Fox says AI Mode’s personal context features, including opt-in Gmail connections teased at I/O, are still in internal testing.
Google Gemini 3 Flash Becomes Default For AI Mode In Search
Google launches Gemini 3 Flash and makes it the default in the Gemini app. It’s rolling out as AI Mode’s default model.
Google Updates JavaScript SEO Docs With Canonical Advice
Google updated its JavaScript SEO docs with new guidance on canonical URLs for JavaScript-rendered pages. Keep canonicals consistent before and after rendering.
The Click Economy Is Over: How AI Search Is Forcing Publishers To Rethink Revenue
Publishers navigating the collapse of the search-to-traffic model need clarity on how emerging AI payment structures are reshaping value, leverage, and long-term strategy.
Google AI Mode & AI Overviews Cite Different URLs, Per Ahrefs Report
Ahrefs data suggests Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews often align on meaning while citing different URLs.
Google Warns Noindex Can Block JavaScript From Running
Google updated its JavaScript SEO documentation to clarify that noindex tags may prevent rendering and JavaScript execution, blocking changes.
Cloudflare Report: Googlebot Tops AI Crawler Traffic
Cloudflare’s sixth annual Year in Review reveals how AI crawlers, security threats, and traffic patterns changed in 2025.
How People Use Copilot Depends On Device, Microsoft Says
Microsoft analyzed 37.5 million Copilot chats and found differences in how people use the assistant on mobile versus desktop.
SEO Pulse: December Core Update, Preferred Sources & Social Data
Google’s December 2025 core update leads this week’s SEO Pulse, alongside Preferred Sources expansion and social insights in Search Console.
Google Releases December 2025 Core Update
Google has released the December 2025 core update, its third of the year. The rollout began December 11 and may take up to three weeks.
YouTube Adds Comments To Shorts Ads, Expands To Mobile Web
YouTube adds comment sections to eligible Shorts ads, lets creators link to brand websites, and expands Shorts ads to mobile web browsers.
Google Expands Preferred Sources & Publisher AI Partnerships
Google expands Preferred Sources to English users worldwide and launches pilot AI partnerships with publishers.
Google Confirms Smaller Core Updates Happen Continuously
Google updated its core updates documentation to say smaller core updates happen on an ongoing basis, so sites can improve without waiting for named updates.
YouTube AI Enforcement Questioned As Channels Get Restored
YouTube creators report sudden channel bans for spam policies, with some restored after public outcry. YouTube claims the vast majority of terminations are correct.
Google Pushes Back On Adweek Report About Gemini Ads In 2026
Google is pushing back on an Adweek report that says the company told advertisers ads are coming to the Gemini app in 2026.
Google Tests Social Channel Insights In Search Console
Google Search Console is testing a feature that shows how linked social channels perform in Google Search, including clicks, impressions, and queries.
YouTube Shorts Algorithm May Now Favor Fresh Over Evergreen
Analysts working with top YouTube channels report Shorts older than 30 days receive fewer views. YouTube hasn’t confirmed any algorithm change.
SEO Pulse: Google Updates Console, Maps & AI Mode Flow
This week’s SEO Pulse examines new data what drives AI citations, plus ChatGPT launches shopping research. Your quick catch-up on what practitioners need to know.
YouTube Title A/B Testing Rolls Out Globally To Creators
YouTube expands title A/B testing globally to all creators with advanced features. Test up to three titles or title-thumbnail combinations per video.
Google Maps Lets Users Post Reviews With Nicknames
Google Maps now lets users leave business reviews under a custom nickname instead of their real name. The setting is rolling out globally.
Google Adds AI-Powered Configuration To Search Console
Google Search Console is rolling out an experimental AI feature that lets you configure Search results Performance reports using natural language prompts.
YouTube Launches First Annual Recap Feature For All Users
YouTube launched its first annual Recap feature showing viewing stats, top channels, and personality types. North America first, global rollout this week.
OpenAI Declares ‘Code Red’ To Improve ChatGPT Amid Google Competition
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a “code red” to prioritize ChatGPT improvements, delaying advertising and AI agent initiatives as Google’s Gemini gains ground.
Google Connects AI Overviews To AI Mode On Mobile
Google is testing a mobile search flow that lets you move from AI Overviews into AI Mode without leaving the results page.
Google Reports Search Console Page Indexing Report Delays
Google announces delays in Search Console’s Page indexing report. The company confirms crawling, indexing, and ranking remain unaffected by the reporting issue.
Google’s Mueller Says Sites In A ‘Bad State’ May Need To Start Over
Google’s John Mueller says sites with low-quality AI content should rethink their purpose rather than manually rewrite pages. Starting fresh may be faster than recovering.
SEO Pulse: ChatGPT Gets Shopping & What Drives AI Citations
This week’s SEO Pulse examines new data what drives AI citations, plus ChatGPT launches shopping research. Your quick catch-up on what practitioners need to know.
Mueller: Background Video Loading Unlikely To Affect SEO
Google’s John Mueller says he doesn’t expect a noticeable SEO impact from a 100MB video that loads in the background after page content and images.
New Data Reveals The Top 20 Factors Influencing ChatGPT Citations
SE Ranking analyzed 129,000 domains to identify the top 20 factors driving ChatGPT citations. Backlinks, traffic, and trust scores ranked highest.