Google December 2025 Core Update, Discover Alignment To Rankings, Search Console Features, AI Mode Updates & More

Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

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7d ago 12:00

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In this week's recap, we covered that the Google December 2025 core update was unleashed. Google also said more core updates are definitely on their way and one should be coming soon Google also updated its documentation to reiterate that it does, in fact, release unannounced, smaller core updates more regularly. Meanwhile, we saw a lot of Google search ranking volatility this weekend and during the week, maybe a baby core update. Google said Discover is minimally aligned to search rankings, which may be why there is so much spam in Google Discover. Google Search Console added weekly and monthly smoothing to charts. Google Search Console insights added social channels. Google Shopping crawlers crawl too fast for JavaScript-generated structured data to be rendered. Google AI Mode links were updated to encourage clicks, and it also added contextual introductions. Google Preferred Sources is now global, and Google is spotlighting subscriptions starting with Gemini and Google AI Mode and AI Overviews later. Google Web Guide expanded to the all tab for those who opt in. Google News is experimenting with AI-powered article overviews. Google AI Mode tests Search Live with citation cards. OpenAI updated its ChatGPT crawler documentation. Bing is testing a hide/show sponsored results button with ad grouping. Bing is testing ad labels on the right side. Bing is also testing an expandable favicon on hover. Google is testing image animations on its search ads. Google Ads contact us forum tests integrating Ads Advisor. Google Ads had an offline conversion upload bug. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

0:54 - Google December 2025 Core Update Is Rolling Out - You Surprised?

1:38 - Google Search Still Working On New Core Update; Update Should Be Soon

2:11 - Google Updates Docs: We Do Smaller Core Updates Without Announcements

3:05 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated Over This Past Weekend

3:43 - Google: Discover Minimally Aligned To Search Ranking

4:52 - Google Search Console Adds Weekly & Monthly Views Granular Data

5:09 - Google Search Console Insights Adds Social Channels

6:02 - Google Shopping Crawlers Are Too Fast For JavaScript Generated Structured Data

6:55 - Google AI Mode Links Updated & Adds Contextual Introductions

7:23 - Google Preferred Sources Now Global & Adds Spotlighting Subscriptions

8:05 - Google Web Guide Expands To All Tab Officially (Opt In Still Needed)

8:24 - Google News AI-Powered Article Overviews Go Live For Some Publishers

8:50 - Google AI Mode Tests Search Live (Voice) With Citation Cards

9:11 - Google Gemini Local Results In Visual Formats

9:27 - OpenAI Updates Its ChatGPT Crawler: OAI-SearchBot

10:00 - Bing Tests Hide Sponsored Results Button & Ad Grouping, Like Google Ads

10:31 - Bing Search Ads Tests Ad Labels On Right

10:42 - Bing Tests Expandable Favicon On Hover Over

10:52 - Google Tests Image Animation For Search Ads

11:08 - Google Ads Contact Us Support Tests Integrating Ads Advisor

11:21 - Google Ads Offline Conversion Uploads Bug Being Worked On

11:48 - Conclusion

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