Google Tests AI Buttons, Local Pack Slop Surfaces, and Meta Explores Search Engine

Barry Schwartz rounds up major search industry developments including Google testing AI buttons on its home page, Google AI Overviews pulling from low-quality listicles in local results, and Meta crawling the web in what may be preparation for a search engine launch. The recap also highlights Google's continued recruitment of advertiser accounts from agencies, upcoming Google Ads language targeting changes, and new AI features across Google's advertising and analytics platforms.