Google citations in AI Mode search results surged 8.4x in two months, driven by Business Profiles and Product Knowledge Panels appearing inline in answers.

Google amended its SerpApi lawsuit to focus on licensed content protection while expanding AI Overviews to local results and rolling out several Merchant Center updates.

Google's AI Overviews for local results are frequently citing self-promotional listicles as primary sources instead of directing users to actual business websites.

Google is converting local knowledge panels from Google Business Profiles into AI Overview format with expandable chat-style interfaces.

Scammers are uploading AI-generated photos to Google Maps business listings with fake phone numbers to divert customer calls, and Google's reporting process appears ineffective.

Google is now notifying business owners when its systems detect and remove a sudden spike in spam reviews from their Business Profile.

Search Engine Land reports Google has expanded Local Services Ads eligibility categories with more granular options across restaurants, automotive, and beauty ahead of moving LSA management into Google Ads.

SERoundtable's weekly recap covers Google's AI home page tests, quality concerns in AI-powered local results, and Meta's web crawling activity that may signal a new search engine project.

Google expanded direct booking for Local Services Ads to support more than 500 partners, up from 20, automatically enabling eligible businesses to let customers book straight from ads on Search and Maps.

Google Business Profiles insights are showing no data for September, eight days into the month, despite typical delays of only a few days.

A Google Business Profiles bug is causing both new and previously approved products to revert to pending status across multiple accounts with no official fix announced yet.

Google Business Profiles is testing an AI feature that automatically converts text descriptions of business hours into structured format for local search results.

Google updated its EEA search result units to include local business queries alongside directories and direct providers.

Google redesigned Search results in the EEA, restored view counts to Business Profile posts, and ChatGPT Shopping expanded its reliance on product feeds.

Google is updating Local Service Ads pricing to charge for missed calls lasting over 20 seconds and follow-up calls starting October 1, 2026.

60–70% of AI users are tapping AI for local search, though trust and frequency questions remain, keeping Google central to the customer journey.

Google Local Service Ads are displaying ads from advertisers outside their stated service areas, potentially mismatching users with service providers.

Google Maps now requires users to sign in with a Google account to view all reviews, sort results, and leave feedback on business listings.

SERoundtable reports Google is testing a redesigned Local Service Ads format with larger images and highlight boxes to increase prominence in search results.

Google is rolling out view counts for Business Profile posts globally, showing combined views from Search and Maps for posts from the past 18 months.

Google is working to fix a bug in Local Service Ads causing them to unlink from associated Google Business Profiles, amid reports of platform instability.

Google has launched a reporting feature allowing users to flag owner responses to reviews for violations like profanity, harassment, discrimination, or personal information disclosure.

Google is rolling out D-U-N-S number requirements for Local Service Ads verification in select US verticals, though alternative documents are accepted if a D-U-N-S cannot be obtained.

Apple has updated its Maps Ads policies to prohibit home service businesses, bail bonds, crypto ATMs, and certain medical services from advertising on the platform.

Google Local Services Ads have switched to displaying Google Business Profile phone numbers for call tracking instead of advertiser-specified Google Ads numbers, and the change appears to be permanent.

Google Local Service Ads now obscure phone numbers until users hover over the ad, requiring a click-to-reveal interaction.

Google is experimenting with a two-row button layout for local search panel actions on mobile devices.

Google Maps is placing some service area business pins in the ocean instead of at correct locations.

Google clarified that business owners have a four-day window to reject user-suggested edits to their Google Business Profiles before the changes auto-apply.

The permanently closed status option has disappeared from Google Business Profiles, along with temporarily closed and some other closure-related options.

Google expanded its aggregator and supplier search units to now support local business queries.

Google announced delays in processing applications for Google Business Profile API access.

Google Business Profiles is testing a fifth verification method that accepts submitted photos of a business location alongside existing phone, email, video, and postcard options.

Google acknowledged and is actively working to fix a bug where reviews disappear from Google Business Profiles after suspension and reinstatement, with no timeline announced.

Google is testing a redesigned Q&A interface within Google Business Profiles that includes a dedicated dashboard button and yes/no response prompts.

Google refreshed its Business Profile help documentation with updated guidance on identifying legitimate versus fraudulent calls and texts via WhatsApp and RCS.

Google is now notifying users when their reviews don't post and offering an appeals process, rolling out globally this week.

Business owners report their review replies have vanished from Google Business Profiles, though replies remain visible in incognito mode and the issue appears widespread.

GatherUp tracked Google's month-long pause of reviews and Q&A starting March 2020 and the platform's uneven, category-by-category rollout to restore them by summer.

GatherUp's local SEO webinar covered new GMB service hours and attributes, Google's spam problem in local listings, and review attribute expansions.

Google removed its OpenTable help document from Maps support but confirmed the partnership remains active after documentation consolidation.

Google is testing a blue background color for the Google Business Profile dashboard interface in Google Search, replacing the previous white background.