May 2026 Core Update: Key Findings & Impacts
If you're interested in the May 2026 core update, you should check out my latest video. It's a companion video to my blog post covering interesting findings and cases. I cover everything from the rollout to the tremors to YMYL impact (esp. gambling) to Grokipedia rising, scaled content abuse & more.
Google's AI Search Agents Automate Real‑Time Shopping Updates
Are we prepared for when Information Agents roll out for all? Especially from a shopping standpoint... -> Google AI Mode starts rolling out Search agents that keep track of information for you "Search agents work in the background 24/7 and “intelligently...
Brand Radar’s AI Indexes Now Prompt‑based, Limited History
Heads-up if you are using Brand Radar to track AI Search performance. They released new AIO and AI Mode indexes on May 22 based on prompt data versus keyword data. When ahrefs moved to tracking prompt data versus keyword data...
ChatGPT Becomes Fastest Billion‑User App Amid AI Surge
Fastest app to reach the milestone. And the data shows that AI is a juggernaut (despite the public backlash) -> ChatGPT hits a billion monthly app users despite souring public AI sentiment "With its billion-MAU figure — achieved roughly 3.5 years...
Chrome Warns WebMCP Can Hijack AI Agents
There will be growing pains. Serious growing pains -> WebMCP Can Be Used To Hijack AI Agents, Chrome Warns "According to Chrome’s agent security guidance, AI agents using WebMCP must defend against two primary attack vectors: malicious manifests and contaminated outputs." "A...
May 2026 Core Update Shakes Rankings, Highlights YMYL Risks
Google's May broad core update was a beast. My latest post covers interesting cases, findings, and analysis. Grab a cup of coffee or a red bull. It's not short :) -> Core Roars Back – Interesting Cases and Findings From...
Meta to Use Off‑Platform Data for Feed and AI
Oh boy -> Meta plans to expand the use of off-platform data, such as e-commerce purchases, from serving ads to personalize content feeds and AI responses "We’re updating how we use information that other businesses already share with Meta. We already...
NotebookLM Gets AI Boost, Multi‑format Outputs, Easier Research
Using NotebookLM? "Across the board upgrades" -> Do better research with NotebookLM "Today we’re introducing across the board upgrades to NotebookLM that deliver new agentic capabilities in chat and more advanced reasoning to tackle the most complex research projects." *First, we’re upgrading...
Google's New Search Profiles Hint at Future Analytics
Insights are coming for the new search profiles. Will be interesting to see how Google expands profiles over time (and how they could be used...) That they are building analytics already tells you something. :)
Google Adds Generative AI Optimization Guidance to SEO Docs
Heads-up, two new updates from Google in their docs. First, Google just updated it's "Do you need an SEO" page in the documentation with mentions of "Optimizing for generative AI". It now contains guidance advising site owners to check if...
YouTube to Integrate with Publishers' Paywalls, Says Exec
Interesting, extending publisher paywalls to YouTube -> A YouTube executive says YouTube is working on integrating its platform with publisher paywalls after Le Monde "pushed us to start developing that solution" "Speaking at the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille,...
AIOSEO Auto‑creates llms.txt & Markdown Files for Millions
I felt a disturbance in the SEO force this morning. It shook me a bit... I immediately knew that millions of sites started publishing llms.txt files and markdown files. And that happened recently. I knew I must reach out to...
Google Adds Direct Checkout to Demand Gen Ads
I guess if someone 100% knows the product they want to buy (or buy again), but not sure how many people would like to go directly to checkout when browsing -> Checkout Links Expand to Demand Gen "Google has announced the...
AI Agent Turns Your URL Into Automated Sales Pipeline
Oh boy -> Explee has launched AutoGTM, an AI sales agent that turns your website URL into a fully automated outbound pipeline with deep personalization "The pitch is direct: paste your domain, and a team of seven autonomous AI agents...
Amazon Licenses Alexa Shopping AI to Retailers
Focus on ecommerce? -> Amazon starts selling its AI shopping technology to other retailers "The tool is built on Alexa for Shopping, Amazon’s recently rebranded e-commerce agent." In a blog post Wednesday, Amazon said it’s taking the “architecture, starter code and learnings”...