As SEO specialists, staying updated with Google’s latest changes is essential because even small updates can impact website visibility, traffic, and reporting.
Several important updates have recently been announced across Google Search and Google Search Console. To help website owners, marketers, and SEO professionals stay informed, here’s a simple breakdown of what changed, why it matters, and any actions you may need to take.
Google May 2026 Core Update — Is Your Site Affected?
Google regularly releases core updates to improve the quality and relevance of search results. The May 2026 Core Update officially began rolling out on May 21 and completed on June 2, 2026.
How to Check Whether Your Website Was Impacted
The easiest way to evaluate the impact is through Google Search Console.
Navigate to:
Performance → Search Results
Compare:
- May 14–20 (before the update)
- June 5–11 (after the update rollout completed)
Review the following metrics:
- Total Clicks
- Total Impressions
- Average Position
If your clicks, impressions, and rankings remained mostly unchanged, your website was probably not impacted by the update.
- Clearly answers the questions users are searching for.
- Is created for people rather than search engines
For website owners, this reinforces the importance of publishing helpful, trustworthy, and well-structured content.
What Did Google Focus On?
Google has not released a specific list of ranking changes for this update. However, their long-standing guidance remains consistent:
Google aims to reward content that:
- Provides genuine value to users
- Demonstrates expertise and experience
- Answers search intent effectively
- Is created for people rather than search engines
For website owners, this reinforces the importance of publishing helpful, trustworthy, and well-structured content.
FAQ Rich Results Are Being Removed
One of the biggest Search Console changes this month involves the retirement of FAQ rich results.
Google officially announced that FAQ rich results are no longer appearing in Google Search and related reporting features are being removed from Search Console.
What Were FAQ Rich Results?
FAQ rich results were expandable question-and-answer sections that sometimes appeared beneath search listings.
These enhancements could increase visibility and occupy more space in search results.
That feature has now been discontinued.
Removal Timeline
| Change | Status |
| FAQ Rich Results Removed from Search | May 2026 |
| FAQ Report Removed from Search Console | June 2026 |
| FAQ Data Removed from Search Console API | August 2026 |
What Should Website Owners Do?
Step 1: Check Existing FAQ Data
Go to:
Search Console → Enhancements → FAQ
If data is available:
- Export the report immediately
- Save it as CSV or Google Sheets
Once Google removes the report, historical FAQ reporting will no longer be accessible through Search Console.
If no data appears, there is nothing to worry about.
Step 2: Should You Remove FAQ Schema?
Removing FAQ schema is optional.
Google has stated that website owners may keep the markup in place. However, removing unused schema can help keep website code cleaner and easier to maintain.
From an SEO perspective:
✅ Keeping FAQ schema will not hurt rankings.
✅ Removing FAQ schema will not improve rankings.
The decision is primarily based on site maintenance preferences.
New AI Performance Reports Are Coming to Search Console
Google has also announced a new reporting feature designed specifically for AI-powered search experiences.
The new Search Generative AI Performance Reports will provide visibility into how websites perform within AI-generated search features.
What Will the Report Show?
According to Google, the report will include:
- AI Overview impressions
- AI Mode visibility data
- Performance by page
- Performance by device
- Performance by country
- Discover AI reporting
This will give website owners additional insight into how their content appears within Google’s AI-driven search experiences.
Where Will It Appear?
Once available, new reporting sections will appear under:
Performance → Search Generative AI
Performance → Discover Generative AI
Why Isn’t It Available Yet?
Currently, Google is rolling out these reports gradually to a limited group of Search Console users.
Many website owners may not see these reports yet.
If the new reports are not visible in your account, that is completely normal. Google has confirmed that broader availability will occur over time.
New AI Content Control (Opt-Out Toggle)
Alongside AI reporting, Google is introducing new controls that allow website owners to manage whether their content can appear in certain AI-powered search experiences.
What Does the Toggle Do?
The new setting allows website owners to:
- Permit AI usage of their content
- Restrict AI usage of their content
Important Consideration Before Using It
Google has explained that choosing to block AI usage may reduce visibility within AI-generated experiences.
Potential effects include:
- No appearance in AI Overviews
- No appearance in AI Mode
- No AI-related impressions or traffic
However:
- Traditional organic rankings remain unaffected
- Standard search visibility remains unchanged
Like the AI reporting feature, this setting is currently being tested with a limited group of users.
Final Thoughts
Google’s latest updates highlight a clear shift toward AI-enhanced search experiences while continuing to emphasize high-quality, user-focused content.
The retirement of FAQ rich results marks the end of one long-standing search feature, while the introduction of AI performance reporting provides new opportunities to understand how content performs in Google’s evolving search ecosystem.
For website owners and SEO professionals, the best approach remains unchanged: focus on creating genuinely helpful content, monitor performance data regularly, and stay informed about Google’s latest developments.
As new Search Console features continue to roll out, keeping an eye on your reports and adapting to changes early can help maintain long-term search visibility and growth.
