A well-rounded view on search engines and search engine marketing from five segments of the Web population represented by senior members of the major SEO/SEM forums on the Internet.https://www.seroundtable.comen-usBarry SchwartzFri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400en-usnoSearch Engine Roundtablesearch,search,engines,google,yahoo,ask,com,microsoft,live,com,adcenter,adwords,adsense,ypn,barry,schwartz,search,engine,roundtableThe Pulse with Barry Schwartz and co-hosts Ben Pfeiffer and Chris Boggs covers search topics that receive the most buzz from within the search community. Each Tuesday, The Pulse will recap those important search topics in a roundtable style format, allowing the hosts to debate and argue some of the latest trends and stories in the search industry.Search Pulse from the Search Engine RoundtableBarry Schwartzbarry@rustybrick.comBarry Schwartzhttps://www.seroundtable.com/recap-05-15-2026-41332.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-05-15-2026-41332.htmlHere is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...Search Forum Recapbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/video-05-15-2026-41328.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 08:01:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/video-05-15-2026-41328.htmlThis week in search I covered, yep, heated Google search ranking volatility kicking in the middle of this week. Google updated its spam policies to say it also applies to Google's AI responses in Search. Google Discover...Search Video Recapsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-indexing-api-inundated-by-bloggers-41329.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 07:51:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-indexing-api-inundated-by-bloggers-41329.htmlGoogle's John Mueller said, "The indexing API is inundated by bloggers trying to act like legitimate sites." This means that Google needs to be more careful about who and what they accept through the Google indexing API.Google Search Engine Optimizationbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-autocomplete-ai-overview-icon-41330.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 07:41:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-autocomplete-ai-overview-icon-41330.htmlGoogle is testing showing a new icon in the autocomplete search suggestions, as you type your search. The icon has a magnifying glass with the Gemini logo on it. It suggests a longer query, a prompt, and when you click it, it takes you to Google Search but with the AI Overview response expanded and fully open.Googlebarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-spam-policies-apply-ai-responses-41331.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 07:31:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-spam-policies-apply-ai-responses-41331.htmlGoogle updated the leading paragraph in the search spam policies to clarify that the policies apply to the Google Search AI responses, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode (or whatever else is AI-generated). Google said, "the Google Search spam policies also apply to generative AI responses in Google Search."Google Search Engine Optimizationbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-create-video-41321.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 07:21:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-create-video-41321.htmlGoogle Ads is testing a new "Create video" beta feature that has the Gemini logo next to it. So this feature uses Gemini, Google's AI, to create the video for you for your Demand Gen campaigns.Google Adsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-direct-hotel-booking-links-41317.htmlFri, 15 May 2026 07:11:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-direct-hotel-booking-links-41317.htmlGoogle is now showing directly hotel booking links directly inside the AI-generated responses within AI Mode. This can lead to sending hotels direct traffic in the AI response, which seems like a win to me. Google Mapsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-05-14-2026-41326.htmlThu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-05-14-2026-41326.htmlHere is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...Search Forum Recapbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heated-41324.htmlThu, 14 May 2026 07:51:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heated-41324.htmlOver the past day or so, I am seeing a large spike in signs that there is Google search ranking movement and volatility. This is between the SEO community chatter spiking, as well as some of the tools showing some big volatility swings.Google Updatesbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-analytics-ai-assistant-traffic-41327.htmlThu, 14 May 2026 07:41:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-analytics-ai-assistant-traffic-41327.htmlGoogle announced that GA4, Google Analytics, has a new AI Assistant traffic measurement. This allows you to track AI chatbot traffic, like from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. This is through a new AI Assistant channel in your Default Channel Group reports.Web Analyticsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-vehicle-ads-atvs-41322.htmlThu, 14 May 2026 07:31:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-vehicle-ads-atvs-41322.htmlGoogle is expanding its vehicle ads to support more vehicles in the United States. Specifically, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), RV's Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs), and non-motorized trailers, such as travel trailers and campers are now supported in Google Vehicle Ads.Google Adsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-auto-link-youtube-channel-41303.htmlThu, 14 May 2026 07:21:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-auto-link-youtube-channel-41303.htmlGoogle sent out emails to some advertisers notifying them that after June 10, 2026 they will automatically link your Google Ads account with your YouTube channel. Linking them will give Google Ads data on your YouTube channel.Google Adsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-version-24-1-41323.htmlThu, 14 May 2026 07:11:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-version-24-1-41323.htmlGoogle has released version 24.1 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with dozens of updates. This update includes features like mobile device platform segment, classic images in DemandGen, support for passkeys, revamped support of experiments, and support for the new data retention policy.Google Adsbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-05-13-2026-41318.htmlWed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-05-13-2026-41318.htmlHere is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...Search Forum Recapbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-performance-report-missing-data-41313.htmlWed, 13 May 2026 07:51:00 -0400https://www.seroundtable.com/google-discover-performance-report-missing-data-41313.htmlGoogle had yet another Search Console reporting bug, this time with the Discover performance report. Between May 7, 2026 and May 8, 2026, Google confirmed a data logging issue that can result in the report showing fewer clicks and impressions. It is a reporting issue only and not a Discover ranking issue.Google Search Engine Optimizationbarry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz)