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Category: Search Features

Discover Google’s AI Updates: Preferred Sources and More

I recently came across some exciting updates from Google that are designed to enhance the way we search for and interact with content. Google is introducing new features to its AI experiences, including AI Mode and AI Overviews, by incorporating preferred sources along with a perspectives carousel and highly cited labels.

Preferred Sources in AI Mode and AI Overviews. One of the updates brings preferred sources to AI search results. According to Duncan Osborn, Product Manager at Google Search, users will now be able to easily identify links in AI responses from sources they have selected. I find this particularly beneficial as it helps me quickly access content from sources I trust.

I saw Google testing this feature recently, and now we have the final version that’s rolling out. There will be a label highlighting preferred sources within AI results, making it noticeable to us. It’s fascinating how this is now available globally and in all languages. Google mentions that users have selected over 345,000 unique sources, and these sources receive double the click-through rate. For those interested in trying it out, you can find more details in Google’s documentation.

Perspectives Carousel. Another interesting addition is the perspectives carousel. Google will present a new carousel for certain searches, tailored to help us dive deeper into specific topics, especially when they’re rapidly evolving. The carousel will prominently feature our preferred sources, making recent articles more accessible across various search queries.

In addition to this, there’s also a carousel that shows helpful perspectives from online discussions, forums, and social media. This is a wonderful way for us to tap into diverse viewpoints, broadening our understanding of topics that interest us. These features are being rolled out in AI Mode and AI Overviews.

Highly Cited Label. Finally, Google is expanding the highly cited label to more web article links within search results. This feature makes it easier to find articles that many other stories refer to. It’s a fantastic tool for me to trace a story back to its primary reporting, ensuring that I am viewing the original source of information. This feature will be available across Google Search, beyond just AI-specific functions.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 27, 2026
Explore Google’s Enhanced Shopping Experience with Universal Cart

Imagine scrolling through Google Search and effortlessly collecting items from various retailers into one convenient Universal Cart. That’s exactly what Google is offering now, a seamless shopping experience that allows me to keep all my desired products in one place and check them out with a single click using Google Wallet.

Recently announced by Vidhya Srinivasan, VP/GM Ads & Commerce, Google’s Shopping Graph has reached an impressive 60 billion product listings, a significant jump from the 50 billion earlier this year. This growth reflects Google’s commitment to enhancing our online shopping experiences.

Universal Cart. With Universal Cart, I can add items from multiple stores while browsing Google Search, or even when I’m on YouTube and Gmail. It’s so liberating not to jump from site to site!

Here’s how it works: as I shop, Google helps me find the best deals and in-stock availability across different retailers. Then I simply choose my preferred store for checkout, leaving no room for the hassles generally associated with online shopping.

Google’s Universal Cart is smart too! Imagine you’re assembling a custom PC—your cart will alert you if any parts are incompatible and suggest compatible alternatives. Built on Google Wallet, it even recognizes payment perks and loyalty offers, revealing savings opportunities I might otherwise overlook.

Merchants. Google has partnered with renowned merchants like Nike, Sephora, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walmart, Wayfair, and Shopify sellers such as Fenty and Steve Madden. This wide array ensures I have plenty of shopping options!

Availability. This feature will roll out in the U.S. this summer, initially available on Google Search and the Gemini app, with plans to expand to YouTube and Gmail soon after.

UCP and AP2. Google is also extending the Universal Commerce Protocol to Canada and Australia soon, with plans for the U.K. The Agent Payments Protocol will support secure, accountable transactions by authorizing agents to shop on my behalf according to my specific criteria.

Moreover, Google’s innovative features are set to debut across Google products, starting with Gemini Spark. It’s an exciting time to be an online shopper!

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 19, 2026
Build Personalized Apps in Google Search with Agentic AI

Have you ever wanted to customize your Google Search experience? Now you can build your own apps right within Google Search.

I discovered this amazing feature powered by Google Antigravity and Gemini 3.5, which lets me set up a search feature that delivers exactly the kind of information I need, formatted just how I like it, and sourced from where I trust.

During this year’s Google I/O, Liz Reid, head of Google Search, unveiled this innovation. She mentioned, “Search can build the ideal response, in the right format for your question – completely on the fly. You’ll get custom generative UI, including visual tools and simulations, tailored to your needs.”

Exciting Examples

Imagine creating custom layouts for understanding astrophysics or how your wristwatch works. Google assembles interactive visuals, tables, and real-time simulations to suit your learning style.

I’ve also been able to manage ongoing tasks like wedding planning or home moves with customized dashboards that act as helpful companions throughout the process.

Let’s not forget fitness! I asked Google Search to build me a custom fitness tracker. It taps into live data like weather and reviews to keep me on track, making my health goals more achievable.

Visualizing the Experience

These custom search experiences, including generative UI examples, will become widely available this summer. I’m particularly excited as they roll out first to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S.

Why This Matters

It’s groundbreaking to have the ability to code mini apps within Google Search, answering questions in ways that are uniquely mine. It’s a level of personalization I’m thrilled about, achievable only through such advanced generative-AI tools.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 19, 2026
Transform Your Search with Google’s Innovative AI Agents

I’m excited to share that Google has announced some transformative updates to its search capabilities. These updates include the introduction of information agents and enhanced agentic experiences that will elevate how we interact with search. Google’s AI will continuously scan the web, ensuring we receive the most current information, much like a personal assistant would.

In a recent announcement, Google revealed new search agents, focusing on information agents and additional agentic functionalities within Google Search. These information agents are designed to monitor the web for changes to our tasks, seamlessly supporting us on our journey through various challenges and questions.

Liz Reid, the head of Google Search, stated, “We’re entering the era of Search agents, where you can easily create, customize, and manage multiple AI agents for your many tasks, right in Search.” This new era provides a unique opportunity to tailor search experiences to our specific needs.

Information Agents. These agents are designed to keep us informed about our questions and tasks. Google’s agents will intelligently sift through the internet—exploring blogs, news sites, social posts, and accessing the freshest real-time data on finance, shopping, and sports, to ensure we receive the most relevant updates on our inquiries.

The information agents will then compile an “intelligent, synthesized update” that not only provides the necessary information but also enables us to take action.

The Example. Envision yourself apartment hunting. You can simply input all your specific requirements, and your agent will continuously scan listings, alerting you whenever a match surfaces. Similarly, if you’re keen on not missing any sneaker collaborations from your favorite athletes, your agent will notify you about new releases.

Availability. These exciting capabilities are set to roll out this summer, initially available to Google AI Pro & Ultra subscribers.

Agentic Experiences. Google is also extending its agentic booking capabilities within Google Search to encompass new tasks like finding local experiences and services. Imagine effortlessly booking a private karaoke room for an exact time and with specific food options, all handled by Google Search.

Google will provide the most current pricing and availability information, along with direct links for purchase, streamlining experiences across various services, including home, repair, beauty, and pet care. These features are expected in the U.S. this summer.

Personal Intelligence Expanding. In addition, Google has revealed plans to broaden its Personal Intelligence feature within AI Mode, now reaching around 200 countries and territories, supporting 98 languages.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 19, 2026
Explore Google Search’s New Power with Gemini 3.5 Flash

Today, I’m excited to share that Google has announced the launch of its latest AI model, Gemini 3.5 Flash. This powerful update is now the default engine for Google’s AI Mode, transforming how we experience search every day.

At the recent Google I/O, I learned about Gemini 3.5 Flash directly from Google’s head of Search, Liz Reid. She described this model as Google’s “newest Flash model delivering sustained frontier performance for agents and coding.” It’s thrilling to know that this technology is now impacting users worldwide.

What really excites me is that 3.5 Flash doesn’t just enhance AI Mode in Google Search; it also powers the Gemini app for everyone, regardless of whether they are paid users or not. It’s great to see Google making such advancements widely accessible.

Developers, you’re in for a treat! 3.5 Flash is now integrated into Google Antigravity, Gemini API for Google AI Studio, Android Studio, and more. For those in enterprise, it’s now part of the Enterprise Agent Platform and Gemini Enterprise.

Koray Kavukcuoglu, CTO of Google DeepMind and Chief AI Architect, shared that Gemini 3.5 Flash rivals the intelligence of large flagship models while providing the speed we expect from the Flash series. It outshines previous models, making remarkable strides in agentic and coding performance benchmarks. I’m truly impressed by its capabilities in multimodal understanding too.

Why should I care? Well, with Gemini 3.5, Google Search’s AI Mode is smarter and more efficient than ever. I’m eager to explore how AI Mode’s responses evolve, especially for the queries that matter most to my site.

The rapid changes in search technology mean it’s crucial to stay informed and adaptable. This update reaffirms the importance of keeping pace with Google’s innovations.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 19, 2026
Explore Google’s New AI Search Link & Citation Updates

Have you noticed a change in how Google displays links and citations in its AI search features? I recently learned about five key updates that aim to enhance our experience with AI Mode and AI Overviews.

According to Hema Budaraju, VP, Product Management at Google, these upgrades are designed to help us connect with authentic voices and access valuable information across the web. She detailed these updates in a recent article.

Let’s dive into the updates rolling out:

(1) Suggested angles at the end of AI responses. Google now suggests further reading options at the end of AI responses. These link to unique articles or analyses that deepen our understanding of the topic. It’s like having a roadmap to satisfy our curiosity!

Here’s a preview of this feature:

(2) Easier access to your news subscriptions. With this update, Google displays links from our news subscriptions prominently. This means I can quickly access content I trust, maximizing the value of my subscriptions. During Google’s early tests, these subscription links significantly boosted click-through rates.

If you’re a publisher, check out the documentation to enable this feature.

Here’s what this looks like in action:

(3) Social media and online discussions now include creator details. When AI features cite social media, Google includes not only the website’s name but also the creator’s name, handle, and community name. This transparency helps me spot firsthand sources at a glance.

Here’s a glimpse of how this plays out:

(4) More links, next to relevant text. Google is increasing the number of links shown directly within AI responses, strategically placing them next to relevant text. This makes it tempting for me to explore these sources further.

Here’s what it looks like:

(5) Hover over inline links for a quick look. Now when I hover over an inline link in Google’s AI features, I get a sneak peek of the website. This could just be the nudge I need to click through and explore further. I remember seeing Google test this back in February and thought it was a brilliant idea.

Here’s an example of the feature:

Why this matters. Google is committed to ongoing testing and refinements, ensuring these features serve us better. I truly believe these changes will promote more engagement with the cited pages, presenting an exciting step forward for both users and the web ecosystem. The real question is, will they meet my expectations?

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 6, 2026
Google’s Preferred Sources Now Available in Every Language

When I learned that Google’s Preferred Sources feature now supports all languages, not just English, I was thrilled. This exciting update means more people can tailor their news experience, regardless of the language they speak.

According to a recent post on Google’s blog, ‘Preferred Sources is now rolling out globally in all supported languages.’ This gives me, and everyone else, more control over the news we see on Search, allowing us to choose our preferred outlets to appear more frequently in Top Stories.

It’s fascinating to reflect on how this feature initially rolled out in December, but was limited to English. Now, it’s a comprehensive tool available globally, no matter the language.

Interesting Stats: Google shared some compelling data with this launch. For instance, readers are reportedly twice as likely to click on a site after marking it as a Preferred Source. Also, over 200,000 unique sites have already been selected by users—from local niche blogs to major global news platforms.

Preferred Sources: This feature lets me star my favorite publications in the Top Stories section of Google Search. By doing so, Google uses that interest to show more stories from those sources. I learned it started in beta back in June and was initially available in the U.S. and India by August, but now it’s part of a worldwide expansion.

How it Works: It’s simple! I just click the star icon next to the Top Stories header in my search results. This allows me to pick preferred sources, provided these sites are constantly updating their content.

Once selected, Google promises to showcase more updates from my favorite sites in Top Stories, provided they have fresh content relevant to my search.

For more detailed information, I can visit this page.

Why it Matters: In the competitive area of Google Search traffic, marking my site as a preferred source can make a significant impact. Google indicated these users are twice as likely to engage, which could help in driving more traffic to my site.

So, I’m adding the preferred source icon to encourage my audience to sign up. If you’re interested, you can make Search Engine Land a preferred source by clicking here.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

April 30, 2026
Google’s Global Expansion: Experience AI-Driven Search Live

I was thrilled to learn that Google has rolled out its Google Search Live globally, expanding its reach to over 200 countries and territories where AI Mode is available. You can check which languages and regions are supported.

Google attributes this remarkable expansion to its cutting-edge audio and voice model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live. This model offers more natural and intuitive conversations, and because it is bilingual, it allows individuals worldwide to engage with Search in their language of choice.

How it works. To get started with Search Live, I simply open the Google app on my Android or iOS device and tap the Live icon beneath the Search bar. From there, I can speak my question out loud and receive a helpful audio response. It’s seamless to continue the conversation with follow-up questions or delve deeper using the provided web links. When I need visual context, like figuring out how to install a new shelving unit, I just enable my camera, and it complements Search Live’s suggestions with relevant information from the web.

Moreover, if I’m already using Google Lens to capture an image, tapping on the Live option lets me have a real-time conversation about what I see, bringing what’s in front of me to life.

More. Back in September, Google made Search Live with video available in the U.S., appealing to those who enjoyed its earlier iterations. Initially, it was an opt-in beta, and before that, it featured a talk and listen mode, minus the video component.

Why we care. This development offers a fresh approach for users to interact with Google’s AI through conversation rather than text queries. While this might reduce traditional web traffic, since users get direct answers, the inclusion of citations and links might still benefit content creators and brands, even if users are less compelled to click through for more depth.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

March 26, 2026
Google Enhances AI Recipe Searches to Empower Bloggers

I recently discovered that Google is refining its AI Mode for recipe searches, which is great news for those of us who blog about food. According to Robby Stein from Google, they’ve listened to our feedback about AI Mode’s recipe results.

They’ve made these changes to help us connect better with our audience online. Though I’m still unsure if AI might simplify our recipes too much, these updates should make it easier for users to visit our sites directly.

Starting today, when people look up meal ideas like “easy dinners for two,” they’ll be able to tap on dishes to find links to our recipes and even get a quick overview to spark their culinary creativity.

What it Looks Like Take a look at this video showcasing the feature in action:

More Recipe Details Google is also adding cook time and other details to the results. They found that having this information helps users decide on which recipe to try.

Stein mentioned that more updates are on the horizon, which is promising for us content creators.

Why We Care This update is crucial because traffic from Google’s AI features hasn’t been kind to our visitor numbers. Google’s efforts to make these AI interactions lead more users to our blogs is a step we all welcome.

Will these enhancements bring significant changes? Only time will tell, but I’m hopeful.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

March 4, 2026
Discover Google’s New Interactive AI Link Pop-Up Feature

I’ve just discovered that Google is introducing a dynamic new feature within AI Overviews and AI Mode—more visible links that appear as pop-ups when I hover over them on my desktop. These enhanced link cards offer clearer details about the website content.

After testing this feature, Google has now made it live. If you’re curious about what these new pop-up menus look like, here’s a screenshot that showcases them:

Robby Stein from Google recently shared on X: “New on Search: In AI Overviews and AI Mode, groups of links will automatically appear in a pop-up as you hover over them on desktop, so you can jump right into a website to learn more. And we’ll show more descriptive and prominent link icons within the response across both desktop and mobile.”

He also mentioned, “Our testing shows this new UI is more engaging, making it easier to get to great content across the web.”

This update has the potential to drive more traffic to websites, and I personally look forward to seeing increased visitor numbers from Google’s AI enhancements. Although, at the moment, there’s no way to measure its impact in Search Console.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

February 17, 2026

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