As expected, with Google I/O this month, we had a pretty busy month. We saw the all-new Google Search Generative Experience demoed, and a few weeks later, Google started a limited rollout of it. Google said the next helpful content system will promote content, such as hidden gems on the web. And we had a number of unconfirmed algorithm updates, let’s not forget the information Google have us on an old system named topic authority ranking.

Google Bard dropped its waitlist and added a bunch of features this month. Google Search Console has a bug with the desktop indexing reporting after saying they moved the last batch of sites to mobile indexing. Google shocked SEOs by saying they do not need to use the canonical tag for syndicated content anymore.

On the local side we had mass LSA violations, a possible reduction in local packs in web search and more. Google also launched those +topics on desktop search, there is a new about this image snippet feature and more.

If you missed last month’s recap see it over here and here are the top headlines for the past month:

Google Search Generative Experience:
The Google Search Generative Experience – All New AI Google Search Engine
Google Search Generative Experience Live For Some – Early Screenshots & Videocasts
Why Google Needs To Encourage Clicks To Publishers In The Search Generative Experience – It’s About Ads & Revenues
Google Search Generative Experience Early Complaints & Responses From Google
Google Search Generative Experience Is Missing The Result Count
Google Ads In Search Generative Experience – What They Look Like

Google Algorithm Updates:
Google Helpful Content System To Find Hidden Gems In Blogs & Forums In Future Update
Google Helpful Content Update Can Demote & Now Promote Content
Google Search Algorithm Ranking Volatility May 22 & 23 – Not Confirmed
Google Search Algorithm Ranking Volatility Around May 17th (Unconfirmed)
Google I/O Search Algorithm Ranking Update – Unconfirmed
Google Early May Search Algorithm Unconfirmed Update Heats Up
May 1st & 2nd Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update – Unconfirmed
Google Search Topic Authority Ranking System (Not New)

Google Bard:
Google Bard Drops Waitlist & Gains Search, Maps, Lens & More Features
Google Bard Gains Images With More Coming Soon
Google Bard Now Shows Citations Like Bing Chat

Google Search Console:
Google Search Console Reporting Some Mobile Indexing As Desktop Indexing
Google Search Console Performance Report Delayed 60+ Hours
Google Rich Results Test Tool Gains Brings Back Code Button
Unusual AMP Crawl Issues Reported In Google Search Console Starting May 12th
Google Search Console Insights Data Change Notice For Google Analytics 4

Google SEO:
Google Bulk Mobile-First Indexing Switch Batch Today (Last Batch Done)
Google Updates Canonicalization Help Document: Don’t Use Canonicals For Syndicated Content
Google Video Structured Data No Longer Requires Descriptions
Google Finally Unofficially Comments On Drop in FAQ Rich Results
Google Search Bug Resulted In Less Traffic To Video Content Between May 4-17
New Googlebot: Google-InspectionTool Added To Crawler User Agents
Google Site Names Now Supported On Subdomains On Mobile Devices
Google Search Treats .AI ccTLD As gTLD (Domains)
Google Documents Supported Languages For Translated Search Results
Google’s New AI-Generated Image Label & Meta Data Required
Goodbye FID, Hello INP – Interaction to Next Paint Coming To Google Core Web Vitals

Google Local:
Google Local Service Ads Mass Policy Violation Notices
Google Reduces Local Pack Results In Web Search?
Google Says Charitable Donations In Exchange For Business Reviews Is Against Guidelines
Google New Maps Sponsored Listing Box, Business Profile Pending Label & Reviews Aren’t Verified Location
Google Business Profiles Expanding Language Assistance Selection

Google User Interface:
Google +Topic Search Bar Refinements Finally Goes Live On Desktop
Google About This Image Snippet Feature
Google Search Interactive Suggestions For Your Search
Google Search Adds More Detailed Car Comparison Tools
Google Search Tests Circled-In Favicon Design
Google Featured Snippets Puts Vertical Lines Between Answer & Images
Google 3D / AR Images On The Desktop Search Interface
Google Business Profiles Panel Tests Image Slider
New Google Search Settings Design
Google Search Snippet With Visual Explore Features

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