In this month’s Round-Up episode, we cover the most important developments in SEO, AI, search, and digital marketing.

Hosted by Sean Barber, alongside co-hosts Amanda Walls (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/), Laura Iancu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/), and Stanislav Farkas (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/), we look at the May 2026 Core Update, Google's latest AI announcements, ChatGPT advertising expansion, AI citation research, local search developments, and what these changes mean for marketers moving forward.

Key Themes:

Google Search & Core Updates

Google's May 2026 Core Update launched alongside Google I/O, making ranking fluctuations difficult to attribute. Early observations suggest a renewed emphasis on traditional SEO fundamentals, intent alignment, and content quality, while AI Mode has now surpassed 1 billion monthly users.

Google I/O & The Future of Search

Google unveiled some of its biggest search changes in years, including Gemini 3.5 Flash becoming the default AI Mode model, background information agents, universal shopping carts, and Generative UI experiences that can build tools and applications directly within Search. The updates continue Google's shift from a search engine to an answer and action platform.

AI Search & Citation Research

New research revealed that only 11% of domains are cited consistently across major AI platforms, highlighting the importance of tracking visibility beyond a single model. Product pages, comparison content, and listicles continue to perform strongly, while AI citations are becoming increasingly disconnected from traditional top-ranking organic results.

ChatGPT Ads & Paid Media

OpenAI's self-serve Ads Manager is now expanding internationally, with ChatGPT advertising launching in markets including the UK. The team discusses early adoption, reporting challenges, attribution concerns, and how AI advertising could reshape paid media strategies over the coming years

.Technical SEO & Search Tools

Google officially retired FAQ rich results, although FAQ content remains valuable for users and AI systems. The episode also covers WordPress 7.0 security concerns, Search Console reporting changes, and Google's testing of conversational AI search experiences within YouTube.

Local SEO & AI Discovery

Ask Maps is now becoming a mainstream experience, while Google Business Profiles, reviews, and local business data are playing a bigger role in AI-generated recommendations. The discussion explores how local SEO is evolving as AI becomes increasingly embedded into discovery journeys.

Search Advertising & Attribution Challenges

Google is now placing ads directly within AI Overview responses, while advertisers face new questions around broad match targeting, measurement, and maintaining high-intent traffic. The panel discusses what these changes could mean for both advertisers and agencies.

Google Antitrust & Search Competition

The team examines Google's ongoing antitrust challenges, including proposed search engine choice screens and the potential impact on market share. Alternative search platforms such as DuckDuckGo also feature in the discussion as competition continues to grow.

AI's Impact on Society & The Future of Search

From Pope Leo XIV's warnings about AI to Gartner's prediction that organic search traffic could decline by 50% by 2028, the episode closes with a broader discussion on how AI is changing user behaviour, search habits, and the future of the web.

Thank you to our partner, SEO Gets, the easy-to-use analytics and reporting tool for your GSC & GA4 data. Be sure to check out the tool and use code search10 for 10% off: https://seogets.com/

In this week’s episode, we cover major developments in digital marketing, from AI, Google, and search news to structured data, local SEO, and international SEO insights.

We start with Conde Nast’s bold move to deprioritise search traffic and what this signals for SEO strategy in an AI-driven landscape. Next, we discuss the Oscars’ AI actor rules and the balance between human creativity and AI-assisted content.

On the AI front, we cover Project Suncatcher, a collaboration between Google and SpaceX for orbital AI data centers, and discuss AI infrastructure, ROI, and OpenAI’s expansion of paid advertising. We also share real-world cases of AI psychosis, mobile AI assistants, and the potential impact of AI on work and decision-making.

In the news roundup, we highlight Botify’s analysis of OpenAI web crawl growth, Anthropic’s Project Deal pilot testing AI agents in marketplaces, and international SEO insights from Aimee Jurenka. We also cover structured data and FAQ-rich results research, local SEO updates, and GA4 AI Assistant channel developments.

Thank you to our partner, SEO Gets, the easy-to-use analytics and reporting tool for your GSC & GA4 data. Check out the tool and use code search10 for 10% off: https://seogets.com/

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest trends in SEO, AI, digital marketing, and content strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover the latest developments in digital marketing, from BrightonSEO insights to AI, Google, and emerging trends in search and content strategy.

First, we recap BrightonSEO, including the best way to access speaker decks via SEOFOMO, and highlight key talks on AI, tech SEO, and marketing strategies.

We also cover Google’s recent AI Mode tests, search volatility, and evolving approaches to agentic search, including Sundar Pichai’s vision of Search as an agent manager.

On the AI front, we discuss the balance between automation and human oversight, the rising costs of AI token usage, and Salesforce hiring 1,000 graduates to support AI projects. We also examine the long-term economic implications of AI, comparing it to the Industrial Revolution and considering sustainability challenges.

In the news roundup, we look at Google Discover traffic growth, Search Console impression bugs, and AI misinformation risks highlighted through Lily Ray’s research. We also share top digital marketing videos and social posts, including humorous and educational takes on ChatGPT and AI tools.

Thank you to our partner, SEO Gets, the easy-to-use analytics and reporting tool for your GSC & GA4 data. Be sure to check out the tool and use code search10 for 10% off: https://seogets.com/

In this month’s Round-Up episode, we look into the latest SEO, AI, and digital marketing trends shaping the industry. Hosted by Sean with co-hosts Amanda Walls and Laura Iancu, we unpack key updates from Google, ChatGPT developments, AI’s impact on search behaviour, and new paid media strategies.

Key Themes Included:

SEO & Search Engine Updates:

- March 2026 Core Update shook rankings; we discuss its impact on the top 3 positions and more.

- Google confirms continuous smaller core updates and back-button hijacking as a spam violation.

AI’s Role in SEO:

- 48% of searches now feature AI Overviews — but with a major drop in organic CTR.

- Businesses adapt their strategies, with 85% planning to boost AI-focused SEO budgets.

Generative AI & Search Optimisation:

- How focused, shorter content is winning AI citations over long-form guides.

- The role of third-party platforms like Reddit and YouTube in AI citation sources.

Paid Media & Advertising:

- Google Ads updates, including AI Max’s product feed optimisation across multiple platforms.

- OpenAI's $100M annual ad revenue growth and future projections.

Local Search Insights:

- GBP activity ranks among the top 5 local ranking factors.

- Google Ask Maps introduces AI-generated local recommendations.

Sources Used -

- March 2026 Core Update completes (12-day rollout) — Search Engine Land / Search Engine Journal

- Smaller core updates now rolling continuously — Search Engine Journal

- Back-button hijacking now a spam violation — Search Engine Journal

- First Discover-only Core Update rolls out — Search Engine Land

- AI Overviews in 48% of queries, CTR at 0.61% — Search Engine Land / Seer Interactive / ALM Corp

- US organic traffic down 2.5% YoY — Search Engine Land

- Google Cloud AI director: rethink SEO for AI agents — Search Engine Land

- AI-optimised sites report 320% more visits — TechRadar

- 85%+ of businesses adapting for AI search — Search Engine Land

- Narrow focused content wins AI citations, not long guides — Search Engine Journal / Search Engine Land

- Reddit, LinkedIn & YouTube top AI citation sources — Search Engine Land / Verkeer

- Domain authority & backlinks still lead GEO signals — Seer Interactive

- AI only cites HTML, ignores Markdown files — OtterlyAI

- Gemini citation rate drops from 99% to 76% in one month — Position Digital

- Agentic Search Optimisation (ASO) emerging as next framework — TechRadar

- ChatGPT ads hit $100M annualised revenue in 6 weeks — Search Engine Land / OpenAI

- OpenAI projects $2.5B ad revenue in 2026, $100B by 2030 — MarketingProfs

- ChatGPT triggers live search on only 34.5% of queries — Semrush / Ahrefs

- ChatGPT adds location sharing & workspace analytics — OpenAI

- LLM bots now crawl sites 3.6x more than Googlebot — Search Engine Journal

- Dynamic GBP activity now a top-5 local pack ranking factor — Verkeer

- Google Ask Maps reshaping local discovery — Search Engine Land

- Product feed optimisation now spans AI search & YouTube — Search Engine Journal

- Google Ads offline conversion upload bug confirmed — Search Engine Roundtable

- Threads overtakes X in mobile daily active users — B2The7

- Adobe launches CX Enterprise Coworker AI agent — WSJ

- 21% of YouTube Shorts now AI-generated — Search Engine Journal

- Search Console adds weekly/monthly views & AI report builder — Search Engine Land / Search Engine Roundtable

- Search Console jobs report showing zero data since 16 April — Search Engine Roundtable

- HTTPS at 91%, title tags at 99% per Web Almanac — Search Engine Land / Web Almanac

- John Mueller: you can make SEO mistakes and still do OK — Search Engine Roundtable

- News publisher search referrals facing structural decline — Search Engine Land

- Users increasingly starting queries in AI tools, not search engines — Search Engine Land

Thank you to our partner, SEO Gets, the easy-to-use analytics and reporting tool for your GSC & GA4 data. Be sure to check out the tool and use code search10 for 10% off: https://seogets.com/

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest trends in SEO, AI, digital marketing, and content strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Vince Niro – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinnero/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover the latest developments in digital marketing, from Google's name change to their data tools, to the evolving AI landscape.

First, we delve into Google's transition from Looker Studio to Data Studio, breaking down the confusion surrounding this shift and exploring its potential impact on the future.

We also look into Kevin Indig's SEM Rush clickstream analysis, examining how ChatGPT prompts often don’t align with traditional keywords and what this means for tracking SEO performance. We discuss the growing divide between keyword tracking and prompt tracking, and the need to adapt strategies in the age of AI-driven search.

Additionally, we explore the latest stories on AI and misinformation, including the first known case of AI agent harassment. This episode highlights the risks posed by autonomous AI tools and the challenges they present to individuals and industries, particularly around data misuse and the spread of misinformation.

We also touch on Snapchat’s job cuts, the challenges of SEO migrations, and share key insights from top digital marketing videos and social media posts.

Tune in for all this and much more in this packed episode!

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest in SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we look into the latest updates shaking up digital marketing. First, we explore Google’s new AI agent and what it means for SEO, as machine-to-machine interactions become key. Meta also steps up with their updated AI model, offering real-time recommendations across platforms, even via Meta Glasses.

We also look at Burger King’s use of AI. On the SEO front, we discuss Sitemaps and John Mueller’s tips for large sites, plus the evolving role of Schema in the AI age and why structured data matters more than ever.

We touch on Baidu’s AI-powered Wiki and its international SEO play. Plus, we share insights into how Claude Code is making SEO workflows more efficient.

But that’s not all – there’s plenty more to learn about in this packed episode! Tune in for the full breakdown.

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest in SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover Reddit’s lawsuit against SERP API and what it means for data access, the growing importance of log file analysis in technical SEO, and Meta’s decision to end end-to-end encryption on Instagram. We also explore the rise of “human-made” content labels in response to AI, Facebook’s push to pay creators to post on its platform, and how AI is being used across healthcare - from NHS diagnostics to concerns around misinformation and accuracy.

Alongside this, we break down the latest thinking on AI-driven SEO, zero-click search, and what it all means for trust, visibility, and the future of digital marketing.

We also touch on AI’s growing role in productivity and workflows, the challenges of detecting AI-generated content, evolving data dependencies between platforms like Google and ChatGPT, and how brands and creators are adapting to an increasingly AI-driven search landscape.

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News - your go-to roundup of the latest in SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover Meta’s acquisition of Moltbook, the evolving role of Claude Code in SEO reporting, and Spotify’s AI-powered playlists, while also discussing Google’s AI-enhanced Maps and its impact on local SEO. We also look into the ethical concerns surrounding AI's responsibility in mental health following a tragic incident involving Google Gemini, exploring how AI can affect sensitive conversations and the need for safeguards & much more!View all stories + more here – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vRgApI9fMAMVswEIcS8iz2HXYpWXPlA2hjHZs8B9stlS6s8mvX-cAkHydCWW2yvca6Jv2sn0xu6w4Eg/pubhtml