Algorithm Updates
Google Rolls Out August Spam Update, Adds Generative UI to AI Overviews
Google has launched its August 2026 spam update and introduced generative UI elements in AI Overviews. Reddit's share of ChatGPT citations has also declined.
SEO
Algorithm Updates
Google's August 2026 Spam Update Fully Rolled Out
Google confirmed the August 2026 spam update, which began on August 18, 2026, completed its rollout on August 21, 2026. The update affects all languages and regions globally. This is the third spam update this year, focusing on combating spammy content in search results.
Algorithm Updates
Microsoft Advertising to Remove Max CPC from New Standalone Bidding Campaigns
Microsoft Advertising will stop allowing advertisers to set Max CPC limits on new campaigns using several standalone automated bidding strategies starting October 1, 2026. Existing campaigns and certain other bidding strategies will retain the option.
Algorithm Updates
Google rolls out August 2026 spam update globally
Google has released its August 2026 spam update, which will take a few days to fully roll out. This update applies globally and to all languages. The update is the third spam update of 2026, following the June 2026 spam update. If your site was not impacted, there is no need to take any action at this time.
Algorithm Updates
Fractl's AI Visibility Index reveals which brands dominate AI search results
Fractl's AI Visibility Index shows that some brands with strong SEO footprints barely appear in AI answers, while others with smaller footprints frequently do. The study highlights that traditional search authority still matters but is not the only factor in AI search visibility.
Algorithm Updates
OpenAI Says Robots.txt May Not Apply To ChatGPT’s Fetch Bot
OpenAI has acknowledged that its ChatGPT fetch bot may not respect the Robots.txt protocol, allowing it to access content that webmasters have explicitly disallowed.
Algorithm Updates
Gemini 3.7 Flash now available in Google Search for AI Pro & Ultra subscribers
Google is rolling out Gemini 3.7 Flash, its latest AI model, to Google Search for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. The model is designed to enhance coding and agent capabilities within the search platform.
Algorithm Updates
Google Announces AI Max Migration Timeline for Search Campaigns
Google will begin automatically migrating legacy Search campaign features to AI Max on September 1, 2026, with Campaign-level Broad Match, Automatically Created Assets, and Dynamic Search Ads transitioning through early 2027.
Algorithm Updates
Judge allows SEO sabotage lawsuit over toxic backlinks to proceed
A federal judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit alleging an auto transport company used toxic backlinks to harm a competitor’s Google rankings. The ruling found the plaintiffs plausibly alleged false advertising and trademark claims under the Lanham Act and Illinois consumer protection laws.
Algorithm Updates
Google tests new mobile Search ad layout with advertiser list
Google is testing a mobile Search ad layout that places a list of advertisers above the sponsored results, giving users more context before they click. The experiment includes each advertiser’s favicon and domain name at the top of the sponsored results block. If rolled out broadly, it may influence user behavior and ad performance. SEO practitioners should monitor this development and adjust strategies accordingly. One actionable step is to ensure brand consistency in favicons and domain names to improve visibility in this new layout.
Algorithm Updates
300 French Newspapers File Complaint Over Google AI Overviews
Nearly 300 French newspapers have filed a complaint with France’s competition authority, accusing Google of violating a compensation agreement by launching AI-generated search summaries without their consent, further reducing traffic to their websites.
General
SEO Glossary: Essential Terms for the AI Search Era
A reference glossary covering classic SEO terms alongside the new GEO/AEO vocabulary — RAG, citation rate, answer engine, entity SEO, and more.