Search News Buzz Video Recap: Unusual Google Search Ranking Volatility, Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies, AI Contribution Publisher Payouts & More

Google launched an AI contribution pilot that pays publishers for the use of their content in Gemini, AI Mode and AI Overviews, according to Search Engine Roundtable's weekly recap. The same recap reported Google's remedies in its ad tech monopoly ruling, which impose behavioral changes with oversight, and noted Google Search Live is now powered by Gemini 3.8 Live. Google also updated its Chrome user experience report with four ad metrics and said its Search Console page indexing report is missing a chunk of data.

For the original iTunes version, click here http://videos.seroundtable.com/20260918.mp4 . This week we covered the first week or so of Google’s unusual ranking volatility only to see things spike up in a big way this week as well - something is up. Google’s remedies are out for its ad tech monopoly ruling. Google has an AI contribution pilot for paying publishers for using its content in Gemini, AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google Search Live is powered by the new Gemini 3.8 Live. Google Search profiles has a new design, easier account management, reduced follower requirement and new badges. Google local knowledge panels are turning into AI Overviews. Google updated its Chrome user experience report to add four ad metrics. Google Search Console’s page indexing report is missing a chunk of data. Google Search Console position reporting in the performance report may evolve over time. Google supports local business queries in the aggregator and supplier units. Google says e-commerce sites need to label adult products in its feeds. Whatever happened with Google Discover not showing on desktop. Google Ads has a new spend benchmark report to compare you to competitors. Google Ads has product value optimization beta. Google AI Mode is testing text link ads. Google product listings are linking directly to the merchant’s site in a new test. Google Merchant Center’s AI performance report is live, easier UCP integration was announced and more. Google Ads August 17th bidding update finished on August 27th and we have some data from Mike Ryan. OpenAI is teasing Sponsored Agents ads on ChatGPT. Bing is testing a shopping filter on the left side. And there are now dashboards for Google Analytics. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable https://www.seroundtable.com/ . Sponsor: Yahoo Scout is an AI answer engine designed to help you get answers quickly and confidently. Explore news, local insights, entertainment, technology, and more with clear responses that include cited sources and visuals to help you better understand the information. Powered by 30 years of Yahoo search expertise. Try it today at Scout.com https://scout.yahoo.com/ . Make sure to subscribe to our video feed https://www.seroundtable.com/videocast.xml or subscribe directly on iTunes itpc://www.seroundtable.com/videocast.xml , Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id284443003 , Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4tFYPk3RmdTfMKG6u074TS , Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy83MGI4NGU3NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw or your favorite podcast player to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSti45W39Fo version of the feed: Search Topics of Discussion: - 0:00 - Introduction - 1:14 - Google Search Update September 4th That Reverted September 13th? https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-update-94-42079.html - 1:51 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up This Morning - September 15th https://www.seroundtable.com/google-update-42091.html - 2:30 - Google May Be More Successful In Blocking Scrapers & Tracking Tools https://www.seroundtable.com/google-blocking-scrapers-and-tracking-tools-42118.html - 2:58 - Google Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies: Behavioral Changes With Oversight https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ad-tech-monopoly-remedies-42107.html - 3:58 - Google Al Contribution Pilot - Paying Publishers For Use Of Content In AI https://www.seroundtable.com/google-al-contribution-pilot-42076.html - 5:12 - Google Search Live Now Powered By Gemini 3.8 Live https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-live-gemini-3-8-42094.html - 5:41 - Google Search Profiles Article Design, Less Followers & Easier Login https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-profiles-updates-42098.html - 6:05 - Google Search Profile Badge - How To Add It To Your Site https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-profile-badge-42106.html - 6:18 - Google Local Knowledge Panel As An AI Overview https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-knowledge-panel-ai-overview-42105.html - 6:55 - Google Chrome User Experience Report CrUX With Ad Metrics https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ad-metrics-crux-42093.html - 7:46 - Google Search Console Indexing Report Missing Old June Data https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-console-indexing-report-missing-data-42073.html - 8:10 - Google: Google Search Console AI Position Reporting Will Evolve Over Time https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-console-ai-reporting-change-42099.html - 8:51 - Google Supports Local Business Queries In Aggregator & Supplier Search Units https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-business-query-units-42115.html - 9:04 - Google Now Requires You Label Adult Products In Ecommerce Feeds https://www.seroundtable.com/google-adult-products-labels-42116.html - 9:22 - What Ever Happened To Google Discover On Desktop https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-on-desktop-not-found-42103.html - 9:50 - Google Ads Spend Benchmarks Report Compares Your Competitors https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-spend-benchmarks-report-competitors-42097.html - 10:16 - Google Ads Product Value Optimization Beta https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-product-value-optimization-42071.html - 10:43 - Google AI Mode Tests Text Link Ads https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-text-link-ads-42082.html - 11:10 - Google Search Product Listings Tests Linking Directly To Merchant Site https://www.seroundtable.com/google-product-listings-direct-merchant-42089.html - 11:38 - Google Merchant Center AI Reports Live, Easier UCP & UCP Analytics https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-center-ai-updates-42095.html - 12:06 - Google Ads August 17 Target-Based Bidding Update Finished August 27 https://www.seroundtable.com/google-august-17-bidding-update-finished-august-27-42090.html - 12:28 - Early Data On Google Ads August 17 Bidding Update https://www.seroundtable.com/data-google-ads-aug17-bidding-update-42086.html - 12:59 - OpenAI Testing Sponsored Agents For ChatGPT Ads https://www.seroundtable.com/openai-chatgpt-sponsored-agents-42104.html - 13:13 - Bing Tests Shopping Filters On Left Sidebar https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-sidebar-shopping-filters-42084.html - 13:21 - Dashboards Available In Google Analytics https://www.seroundtable.com/google-analytics-dashboards-42075.html - 13:33 - Conclusion Please do subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/rustybrick?sub confirmation=1 or subscribe via iTunes itpc://www.seroundtable.com/videocast.xml or on your favorite RSS reader https://www.seroundtable.com/videocast.xml . 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