Google volatility, AI Overviews and earnings dominate search week

By Nathan Brooks

Google AI Overviews appeared in more than 80% of search queries and continued growing, according to this week’s Search Engine Roundtable recap. The figure leads a week shaped by ranking volatility, advertising experiments, product launches, interface tests and earnings releases from Google and Microsoft.

Which ranking reports are confirmed?

The weekly recap covered two Google Search volatility signals. One centered on October 24. The second remained unconfirmed, combining ranking chatter with another volatility spike. Neither item was presented as a named core ranking update.

Google separately warned search tools about its user-generated spam guidance, while it also downplayed the importance of reports about fresh indexing and left the ranking volatility unresolved.

During an interview covering AI spam and SEO, John Mueller said, “Eventually systems will catch the AI spam and tricks.” The statement forecast future detection; it did not set an enforcement date.

Google explained that 404 errors are not inherently alarming. Updated favicon documentation says Googlebot must follow redirects from a homepage to a favicon. Search Console also does not display every spammy link.

Google may also restore the parameter that lets users request 100 results per page. The recap framed that work as a possible return rather than a confirmed launch.

How are AI Overviews changing?

Google was testing the removal of the citations card on the right side of AI Overviews. It also tested query-refinement buttons, described as bubbles, that lead into AI Mode. Neither interface change had a confirmed rollout date.

A small opt-out study reported a 0.9% click-through rate for AI Overviews and AI Mode. The recap gave no sample size, so the estimate should guide monitoring rather than serve as a population-wide benchmark.

For publishers and information sites, that small estimate makes referral pressure a central concern. The right-side-card test could also change how users reach cited pages. These remain implications, not measured losses for any specific site.

Google opened its connected-apps platform to more developers. That creates another route for developers to build tools for Google Search.

Semrush’s sponsored AI Visibility Index 2026 analyzed 25 million U.S. prompts each month across ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Mode and AI Overviews. It examined the gap between brands appearing in AI answers and websites receiving few or no citations.

Which ads and product changes are confirmed or tested?

• Confirmed: Google expanded ads in AI Mode to more countries. It also released multiturn ads in the United States.
• Test: AI Mode separately tested blending sponsored products with organic products.
• Confirmed: Google Ads’ “All conversions” tab is fully live.
• Test: Google Ads tested an Apple Messages button inside sponsored results.
• Confirmed: Google published a help document for AI-generated review summaries, released Google Ads API version 26.1, and shipped October 2026 updates to the Merchant API.
• Confirmed: Google Business Profiles now lets restaurants opt out of third-party delivery options, asks businesses for EINs, and is rolling out an AI-powered messaging service.

For developers, the API releases affect implementation work. For advertisers, AI Mode adds new placements and formats. Restaurants are the clearest local-business audience for the delivery and messaging changes.

What changed in Bing and Discover?

Google Discover tested disabling clicks on sources in its Sources section. Google attributed the behavior to a bug.

Bing tested scan-to-call phone numbers, placing a phone number and QR code in results, while the search engine also showed ads within its AI Overviews experience.

Google and Bing added Halloween-themed search easter eggs. The recap did not link either seasonal treatment to an algorithm update.

What did the earnings show?

Google and Microsoft announced rising advertising revenue, though the recap described the growth as potentially slowing. Google reported ad revenue up 10.5% and overall revenue up 25%, while Microsoft reported Bing Ads revenue up 12% and overall revenue up 19%.

Google separately said AI Mode currently earns less from ads than traditional Search. The comparison included no dollar amount in the recap.

What should publishers and advertisers monitor next?

Watch whether the volatility reports develop into a named update, whether Google restores 100-result pages, and whether the AI Overviews interface tests reach wider rollout. Also monitor whether AI Mode’s ad formats expand beyond tests and whether its revenue gap with traditional Search narrows.

With AI Overviews above 80% reach and a small-study click-through estimate of 0.9%, traffic and advertising economics offer the clearest measures for publishers, developers, advertisers and local businesses.