AI Search & SEO News (July 2026): Google Trends Update, ChatGPT + Yelp, AI Mode Ads & New Studies

Jack Chambers-Ward hosts a July 2026 AI search and SEO news roundup on Search With Candour.

This episode covers everything from new Google Trends features and social media data tracking in Google Search Console to research about ads in Google AI Mode and if Google punishes AI-generated content.

Links to articles

• https://www.linkedin.com/posts/analyzing-search-interest-just-got-more-powerful-share-7478017577340968960-qsi3/
• https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7480247562084638720/
• https://seranking.com/blog/google-ai-mode-ads/
• https://www.tryprofound.com/blog/google-com-is-now-ai-mode-s-2-cited-domain
• https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-doesnt-punish-ai-content/
• https://www.similarweb.com/corp/reports/2026-generative-ai-landscape/
• https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/yelp-reviews-chatgpt-geo-partnership

Chapters

00:00 Coming up on this episode

00:29 Introduction

01:53 Live Podcast returns on 7 October 2026

04:19 Google Trends new comparison feature

09:31 ChatGPT adds Yelp reviews

12:35 SE Ranking study: Ads in AI Mode

18:39 Profound study: Google cites itself more

23:01 Ahrefs study: Does Google punish AI content?

29:37 SimilarWeb Generative AI Report

36:33 Wrap up