Daily Search Forum Recap: September 17, 2026

OpenAI is testing a new ad format in ChatGPT called Sponsored Agents, which "let people start a conversation with a business-sponsored agent after clicking an ad in ChatGPT," the company wrote. Google is also turning local knowledge panels, the Google Business Profile, into an AI Overview listing with a "Show more" button that opens an AI Mode-style chat interface, and Google Search profiles now require only 10,000 followers on social platforms, down from the prior threshold, alongside a new article design and single login for managing multiple profiles. The roundup also covers the judge's proposed remedies memo in Google's ad tech monopoly case, which calls for behavioral changes with oversight rather than a breakup, plus Bing tests of Top Picks, Sale, Price Drop and Views labels in product carousels and Google tests of Sponsored Places ads that expand on hover.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable https://www.seroundtable.com and other search forums on the web. The remedies memo is out for Google's ad tech monopoly ruling. What ever happened to Google Discover showing up on the desktop version of Google's home page? Google is turning the local knowledge panels, your Google Business Profile, into an AI Overview listing. Google Search profiles lowered the follower count requirement, updated the design for articles, made it easier to manage multiple profiles and added website badges. OpenAI is testing a new ad format in ChatGPT named Sponsored Agents and more ad changes. Bing is testing Top Picks, Sale, Price Drop, Views and more labels. Google is testing the Sponsored Places ads that expand when you hover over the ads within Google Search. Search Engine Roundtable Stories: - What Ever Happened To Google Discover On Desktop https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-on-desktop-not-found-42103.html Last year, Google began to roll out Google Discover on the desktop interface of Google.com. But now, for the past several months, Discover on desktop is not been found. Google tested Discover on Desktop in 2023 and then, in 2025, said it was coming; it even started to roll it out, but again, it didn't last - Discover on Google.com desktop just does not exist. - Google Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies: Behavioral Changes With Oversight https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ad-tech-monopoly-remedies-42107.html Earlier this month, we learned a judge ruled that Google won't be broken up over its monopoly ruling in its ad tech case. And now we have the full memo with the judge's proposed remedies, including Google making behavioral changes. - Google Local Knowledge Panel As An AI Overview https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-knowledge-panel-ai-overview-42105.html Google is turning the local knowledge panels, your Google Business Profile, into an AI Overview listing. At the top of the local listing it says "AI Overview" and then there is a "Show more" button to expand, which brings you into the follow up AI Mode style chat interface. - Google Search Profile Badge - How To Add It To Your Site https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-profile-badge-42106.html Google left one thing out of the announcement around the new Search profiles features announced today, you can now add a Search profile badge to your website. This allows users/searchers to follow you directly from your website. - Google Search Profiles Article Design, Less Followers & Easier Login https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-profiles-updates-42098.html Google has updated the Search profiles with a new article design, a single login to manage multiple Search profiles and only 10,000 followers on social platforms are required. - OpenAI Testing Sponsored Agents For ChatGPT Ads https://www.seroundtable.com/openai-chatgpt-sponsored-agents-42104.html OpenAI is testing a new ad format in ChatGPT named Sponsored Agents. Sponsored Agents "let people start a conversation with a business-sponsored agent after clicking an ad in ChatGPT," OpenAI wrote. - Bing Product Carousels With Top Picks, Sale, Price Drop, Views & More Labels https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-product-carousel-labels-42092.html Microsoft is testing adding new labels to the Bing Search product carousels. Labels include Top Picks, Price Drop, Sale and likely other labels on the Bing Search product listings, within the carousels. - Google Sponsored Places That Expand On Hover https://www.seroundtable.com/expandable-google-sponsored-places-42081.html Google is testing the Sponsored Places ads that expand when you hover over the ads within Google Search. Google has been testing expandable ads on hover for a while, but here is one with the Sponsored Places ads. - Large Glowing YouTube Signage https://www.seroundtable.com/photos/large-glowing-youtube-sign-42037.html Here is a super large YouTube sign in the Google office in Brazil. I like how it also glows. I found this on Instagram. Other Great Search Threads: - Consumer behavior is shifting. Are your holiday retail campaigns ready? Fresh off Rethink Retail in NYC, Group Product Manager Enric Durany and I dive into the nuts and bolts of holiday readiness on a special episode of Ads Decoded. We cover: Full-funnel strategies using https://x.com/adsliaison/status/2100285394365415856 , AdsLiaison on X - I don’t have a number, but keep in mind the update is made at the campaign level. One account might have had just one budget-constrained campaign using Smart Bidding while another campaign might have had the majority of their campaigns impacted by the update to bidding https://x.com/adsliaison/status/2100244477541580873 , AdsLiaison on X Search Engine Land Stories: Other Great Search Stories: AI & LLMs - AI must not outrun safety controls, DeepMind co-founder warns https://www.ft.com/content/0fc3ae6d-732e-4f08-950e-8669b1fcfd8e , Financial Times Sub - The AI-as-Normal-Technology view of loss of control incidents https://www.normaltech.ai/p/the-ai-as-normal-technology-view , Normal Tech - 5 facts about teens’ views on AI from a new Google study https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/families/teens-ai-research-findings/ , Google Blog - Anthropic merges Claude chat and Cowork in one interface https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/16/anthropic-merges-claude-chat-and-cowork-in-one-interface/ , TechCrunch - Microsoft AI chief blasts Anthropic's notion of AI consciousness https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/microsoft-ai-chief-anthropic-consciousness , Axios - OpenAI discloses six new AI misalignment incidents https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/openai-testing-safety-incidents-disclosure , Axios Analytics - Updates to App Tracking Transparency in the European Union https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=idsft9ai , Apple Developer News Industry & Business - AI bosses’ safety push sparks rift inside OpenAI and Anthropic https://www.ft.com/content/d085adc5-977b-4c7e-9641-9824d1d345d3 , Financial Times Sub - Apple Considers Return to Server Market, Has Talked With Nvidia to Use Network Tech https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-considers-return-server-market-talked-nvidia-use-network-tech , The Information - Google unveils the latest developments at Chicago Thompson Center featuring new community spaces and artwork. https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/chicago-thompson-center-designs/ , Google Blog - Google should relax ad tech rules, appoint antitrust monitor, US judge finds https://www.reuters.com/world/google-should-appoint-antitrust-compliance-officer-us-judge-says-ad-tech-case-2026-09-16/ , Reuters - Search Central Live Deep Dive Europe 2026: Meet the community speakers https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026/09/scl-dd-europe-2026-community-speakers , Google Search Central Blog - Monopolist Google gets ‘behavioral’ guardrails and a monitoring plan https://www.courthousenews.com/monopolist-google-gets-behavioral-guardrails-and-a-monitoring-plan/ , Courthouse News Service Links & Content Marketing - How To Build Direct Audience Relationships No Algorithm Can Touch https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/audience-building/build-direct-audience-relationships , Content Marketing Institute Local & Maps - Android Auto can now customize 'driving avatar' on Google Maps https://9to5google.com/2026/09/16/android-auto-google-maps-driving-avatar-update/ , 9To5Google - Android Auto Is Finally Getting A Key Google Maps Feature, 7 Years Late https://www.bgr.com/2259555/android-auto-google-maps-feature-speedometer-speed-limit/ , BGR Other Search - Your AI agents can now control your Google Home devices https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/16/your-ai-agents-can-now-control-your-google-home-devices/ , TechCrunch - Snap Shares More Details About $2,195 Specs AR Glasses, Plus Verizon Partnership https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-09-16/snap-shares-more-details-about-2-195-specs-ar-glasses-plus-verizon-partnership?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4OTYwMjIwNywiZXhwIjoxNzkwMjA3MDA3LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUTEhEUVRSS1YyVkEwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJDOTYyQ0UxOUMyOTc0NDBGQkMyNEQxQkQ2RDQ4MjczNSJ9.01o6l00ip iJzqQmR0520mnqygcxPcF eob6DVrcJnc&leadSource=article-gifting , Bloomberg - Snap is launching a new Specs AI tool, and it’s coming to iOS and Mac https://www.theverge.com/tech/996078/snap-specs-intelligence-ai-agent-ios-mac , The Verge PPC - Microsoft Ads API Returns Editorial Reasons for Assets https://ppcnewsfeed.com/ppc-news/2026-09/microsoft-ads-api-returns-editorial-reasons-for-assets/ , PPC News Feed - Realistic Approaches to Incrementality Testing for Small & Mid-Sized Advertisers https://www.jumpfly.com/blog/realistic-approaches-to-incrementality-testing-for-small-mid-sized-advertisers/ , JumpFly - Proving the Value of Paid Search With Incrementality Testing https://ppchero.com/proving-the-value-of-paid-search-with-incrementality-testing/ , PPC Hero - Update to Gambling and Games Policy: Slovenia September 2026 https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/18107610?hl=en , Google Advertising Policies Help - Google Adds Invalid Leads Prevention Guide https://ppcnewsfeed.com/ppc-news/2026-09/google-adds-invalid-leads-prevention-guide/ , PPC News Feed - Who Should Own Your Google Ads Account? The PPC Community Has Its Say https://www.ppc.live/post/who-should-own-your-google-ads-account-the-ppc-community-has-its-say , PPC Live - 4 AI holiday shopping shifts brands should know https://business.google.com/in/think/consumer-insights/ai-holiday-shopping-shifts/ , Think with Google Search Features SEO - How To Find All PDFs That Have Been Recently Deindexed Using The Search Console API, URL Inspection API, And Analytics Edge https://www.gsqi.com/marketing-blog/how-to-find-all-pdfs-deindexed-url-inspection-api/ , GSQI - International SEO for Publishers: How To Succeed Across Borders https://www.seoforgooglenews.com/p/international-seo-for-publishers , SEO For Google News - The Atlantic is getting more subscribers from Google traffic, even as referrals fall https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/09/the-atlantic-is-getting-more-subscribers-from-google-traffic-even-as-referrals-fall/ , Nieman Journalism Lab Feedback: Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick https://twitter.com/rustybrick/ or @seroundtable https://twitter.com/seroundtable , on Threads https://www.threads.net/@rustybrick , Mastodon https://c.im/@rustybrick and Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/rustybrick.com and you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/seoroundtable and on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAiEGcxG7fAnv8WVJaUn-8kyrcqFAgKIhBnMRu3wJ7 FlSWlJ vJMq3?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen , add as a preferred source on Google https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=seroundtable.com and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/rustybrick?sub confirmation=1 channel, Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id284443003 , Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4tFYPk3RmdTfMKG6u074TS , or just contact us the old fashion way https://www.seroundtable.com/contact.php .