This week’s SEO News Roundup covers Google’s guidance on llms.txt and markdown files, the removal of FAQ rich result documentation, AI Mode information agents, Google Business Profile access issues, Local Finder interface changes, Search Console link-report recovery, and what AI search means for citations, bot traffic, and local visibility.

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Google cools off llms.txt and AI-file hype

Google says llms.txt files do not help or hurt Search rankings, and Search is not using AI-only markdown files as a shortcut. Google also removed FAQ rich result documentation because FAQ rich results are no longer shown. Source 1 Source 2

AI Mode information agents roll out

Google is rolling out information agents in AI Mode for paid AI Ultra subscribers, moving Search further toward delegated research and background monitoring. Source 3

GBP access and Local Finder checks need care

Some Google Business Profile owner and manager invites are reportedly failing, and Google Local Finder appears to have replaced pagination with continuous loading. Source 4 Source 5

Search Console link reports are updating again

Google Search Console’s link report appears to be fresh again after several weeks of stale or reverted data. Source 6

AI search brings citations and bot pressure

Reported audience data suggests frequent AI Overview users click cited sources more often, while AI bots are also creating server-load and analytics issues for some sites. Source 7 Source 8

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This week’s SEO News Roundup covers Google’s new AI visibility reporting in Search Console, Business Profile data moving into Analytics and Gemini, GBP contact-data issues, zero-click search pressure, review reply rejection risks, and post-core-update volatility.

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Google adds AI visibility reports to Search Console

Google’s new Search Generative AI performance reports show impressions from AI Overviews, AI Mode, and generative AI features in Discover. The rollout is limited, but it gives site owners a Google-native starting point for AI search visibility. Source 1

GBP data moves closer to Analytics and Gemini

Google has documented a native Google Business Profile connection for Google Analytics, and Gemini is adding Business Profile tools for reviews, listing details, and Search/Maps performance. Source 2 Source 3

GBP contact fields need another QA pass

Google appears to have added WhatsApp numbers to many Business Profiles in bulk, with some businesses reporting wrong or unreachable numbers. Source 4

Zero-click search pressure keeps rising

SparkToro and Similarweb reported that fewer than one-third of U.S. Google searches sent a click to the open web in early 2026. Source 5

Review replies can be rejected silently

GMBapi analyzed thousands of rejected Google review replies after Google exposed reply-state data through the GBP API. Duplicate templates, generic AI replies, contact details, hashtags, and bulk timing were common risk patterns. Source 6

Post-core-update volatility continues

The May 2026 core update completed June 2, but ranking chatter continued through June 8-12. Search Engine Journal also reported Reddit gains across many niches after the update. Source 7 Source 8 Source 9

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This week’s SEO News Roundup covers Google’s new AI visibility reporting in Search Console, broader AI Search controls, the completed May 2026 core update, Google Business Profile data coming to Google Analytics, and why review systems matter more than star ratings alone.

Top Stories

Google adds generative AI performance reports to Search Console

Google introduced dedicated Search Generative AI performance reports showing visibility across AI Overviews, AI Mode, and generative AI features in Discover. The reports focus on impressions, pages, countries, devices, and date trends.

Source

Google expands AI Search controls and insights for website owners

Google said AI Overviews now reaches more than 2.5 billion monthly active users and AI Mode has passed one billion monthly users, while also testing and responding to calls for more website-owner controls around AI Search visibility.

Source 1 Source 2

Google’s May 2026 core update is complete

Google’s May 2026 core update finished rolling out on June 2 after roughly 12 days, with significant ranking volatility reported near the end of the rollout.

Source

Google Business Profile data is coming to Google Analytics

Google has documented a native Google Business Profile and Google Analytics link that can bring local metrics such as calls, bookings, direction requests, website clicks, messages, menus, and total profile interactions into GA reporting.

Sources 1 Source 2

Reviews are becoming operational infrastructure, not just local SEO polish

Search Engine Journal covered research showing that star ratings alone did not predict small-business performance, while active reputation management correlated more strongly with results. Separately, Google Maps has asked some users whether businesses offer rewards in exchange for reviews.

Source 1 Source 2

Need Help With Local SEO?

Local SEO Partners helps service businesses get more visibility from Google Search, Google Maps, and conversion-focused websites. If you want help turning search traffic into better leads, reach out and we’ll see if we’re a good fit.

Local SEO Partners

(931) 783-1865

info@localseopartners.com

2370 Quinland Lake Road, Suite 101, Cookeville, TN 38506