Core update, AI and more: Google news
The latest Google news and updates. Here’s what to know about the latest core update, changes to Top Stories and AI Overviews.
Hello, and welcome back. Jessie and Shelby here, back from a frigid “spring” weekend. You’d think May means universally pleasant temperatures. But not in the north, dear reader! Instead, we experienced snow, rain, frost and (some) sun, all in 48 hours. Canada: where the healthcare is free, the geese are mean and the weather is as unpredictable as the Raptors’ playoff hopes.
This week: Google news and updates! A lot has happened since we last covered Google’s shenanigans. Here’s what to know about the latest core update, changes to Top Stories and AI Overviews.
🚨 Happening soon! Our spring community call is Wednesday, May 20 at 11 a.m. ET/4 p.m. GMT! In partnership with Trisolute News Dashboard, Steven Wilson-Beales will join us to discuss all things podcast SEO! Register to receive a reminder and ask a question.
Let’s get it.
THE UPDATES
March 2026 core update has completed
What happened: Google’s first official core update of 2026 completed on April 8, with rollout lasting just under two weeks. This update appeared less intense, especially in comparison to the very volatile December’s core update. That 2025 update also specifically targeted e-commerce SERPs, whereas March 2026’s focused on shifting visibility to authoritative, brand-owned, first-party sites like government pages and .org domains.
Why it matters: YouTube, Reddit, Instagram and X were amongst the top four brands that lost visibility in this update, indicating a pattern of declines for UGC and aggregation content. Those four sites have been steadily taking over Google’s environments and stealing traffic away from publishers. (However, in the weeks since the update, Reddit has regained visibility.)
But fair warning… According to Amsive’s winners and losers, Google was fourth on the list of absolute winners in the update. This does seem to indicate that while Google is swinging toward authoritative sites, it’s not necessarily giving up its own real estate, either.
Preferred Sources now available in all languages
What happened: Google rolled out its search personalization feature, Preferred Sources, globally in all languages. The feature officially launched last year, enabling users to customize their search experience with selected publishers.
What Google said: The feature already allows users to have “control over the news you see on Search” by picking specific sites to see more often in Top Stories. “So far, people have already selected over 200,000 unique sites — from niche local blogs to global news desks,” the company reported.
Nick Fox, Google’s head of knowledge and information, commented on increased engagement for preferred sites in a post on X: “People are 2X more likely to click to a site after marking it as a Preferred Source.”
Why it matters: The global rollout of Preferred Sources marks a further shift to personalization and user-controlled curation in Google’s ecosystem. It’s an opportunity for publishers to take advantage of potentially more visibility and stronger engagement once selected by a reader.
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Google expands AI Mode to YouTube
What happened: Google has made a new test available for people to use conversational queries on YouTube. Users who prompt the AI tool will get back a response made up of long- and short-form videos, along with a text summary. Further prompting provides more specific answers based on previous interactions. The test is currently only available for YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S., who have opted into the platform’s experimental features.
Why it matters: Google is going all in on AI. The conversational chatbot is no longer reserved for search results, or the standalone AI Mode interface, but also available on an entirely new platform.
Google adds ‘You Asked to See’ label to Discover
What happened: Google launched a label in Discover called You Asked to See, which is added to content in your feed that’s based on your selections in the Tailor Your Feed feature. (Tailor Your Feed is an experiment first spotted in December 2025 that allows users to make Discover “truly yours”, enabling readers to see more of what they want.)
Why it matters: Similar to Preferred Sources, this is another move from Google toward further personalization. Google Discover surfaces relevant content based on a user’s search activity and preferences; the label is a reflection of that behavioural choice.
Google testing an “ask anything” box that sticks on scroll
What happened: Google is now testing having the AI Overview “Ask Anything” box stick to the bottom of the screen as you scroll down on search results (on desktop). This is an iteration on the feature, as currently for most users, the box is there when an AI Overview summary is present, but it does not stick. The feature will now continue down the results, covering other features.
Why it matters: The Ask Anything box — which leads you to an AI Mode experience once you interact with it — now keeps Google’s AI integrations in your face during the entire searching journey. It suggests the inevitability of AI-first search on Google and becoming more like a conversational chatbot daily.
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THE JOBS LIST
Audience or SEO jobs in journalism. Want to include a position for promotion? Email us.
The New York Times is hiring an Audience Editor, Metro and Senior Software Engineer, AI Platforms and Products (New York City, N.Y.).
The Marshall Project is hiring a Senior Editor, Local and Engagement (Remote).
EVEN MORE READING
⚒️ Johannes Beus: AI Citation drift: How stable are sources in AI search results?
🗺️ Dan Taylor: How AI search audits map your brand in the generative era.
📈 Crystal Ortiz: Is there still a long-term game for SEO in AI search?
🧰 Barry Schwartz: Bing Webmaster Tools teases new AI reporting updates.
🔍 Aleyda Solis: Where AI search sends traffic: 10 market patterns for your global AI search strategy.
🖥️ Aleyda Solis: The best of the published decks from BrightonSEO UK.
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Have something you’d like us to discuss? Send us a note on Twitter (Jessie or Shelby) or to our email: seoforjournalism@gmail.com.
Written by Jessie Willms and Shelby Blackley