Google employees discuss "SEO is dead" as AI search results impact?

[Popular] Google Employees Discuss "SEO is Dead"

In a recent episode of the "Search Off the Record" podcast, the topic of "Is SEO Dead" came up.Gary Illyes is optimistic.The

He argued thatThe topic "SEO is dead" has been talked about since 2001, but SEO is alive and well.

Google started coming online in 2004 with various algorithms such as Panda, Penguin, and in recent years, Core.The topic of SEO being dead has been discussed for a long time, but SEO is still alive in 2025. But. SEO is about to change dramatically in the age of AIThe

John Mueller also mentioned RAG The topic.

RAG full name is Retrieval-Augmented Generation, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, is an additional stage before the original LLM to generate text:Retrieve information from external specific knowledge basesFor example, AI customer service will use RAG to call up company policy documents before generating the corresponding answers. (For example, AI customer service will use RAG to call up the company's policy documents before generating the corresponding answers.)

John Mueller said in SEO Processes Still Work in AI RAG, SEO Still Focuses on Crawling, Indexing, RankingThe

on account ofWebsites still need to be crawled by AI, retrieved, and entered into the ranking system, except that this ranking outputs consolidated content, not links to the original pages.

AI is still revolutionizing SEO in 3 ways:

1. The original natural search results page is outdated(i.e., the traditional 10 blue links)
2. Users query using everyday conversations, changing the way the relevance algorithm previously worked(Users will query conversationally, and much of the previous SEO content was created based on the keyword query model)
3. Rapidly iterating AI ranking algorithms will allow for more volatility in website traffic (AI algorithms that iterate quickly and have fuzzy signals will make it harder for SEO to stabilize)

And very importantly.AI search will show answers more directly, fewer links to click onThis will lead to a decrease in overall SEO traffic.

💬 But it's also an inevitable trend that the AI era is upon us.As an SEOer, are you ready for what adjustments you'll have to make?

[Algorithm] December Web Spam Update Complete

The December 2024 spam update is available on the Release completed on December 26th.. Here is the specific information for this time:

• name (of a thing): Google December 2024 Web Spam Update
• activation time: December 19, 2024
• Completion time: December 26, 2024
• goal: Targets some sites that violate Google's search spam policy.
• non-target: This update does not address link spam content, nor does it address the Abuse of Site Reputation Policy and other parts of the policy.
• penalize: Penalize certain spam techniques that violate Google's spam content policy.
• Coverage: This is a global update affecting all regions and languages.
• affect (usually adversely): Google did not disclose how many queries or searches were affected by the update.
• resumption: If you have been affected, Google recommends that you review its spam policy to ensure that your site complies with the requirements.
• update: Google says it will update this webspam update regularly and recovery could take months.

AI] Google and Bing show AI-generated results for Best-type keywords

Google and Bing are both trying out "Best Class Search".Showcasing AI Leaderboard Content(as shown below).Distill a list from the content of multiple web pages, rather than using the list content of a particular web page directlyThe

The difference is that Google is displayed first and Bing is displayed fourth below the natural links.

this willInfluencing traffic acquisition for Best's leaderboard-type contentIt has a direct impact on SEO and Affiliate marketing.

[AI] Google Local Search tries AI-ordered restaurant search results

Google's AI sorting results were first announced at the Google I/O conference in May and began being tested over the summer, with more extensive testing in October, and are nowAI sorting for restaurants and bars has been launchedThe

As shown below, in the search cocktail bars nyc whenNumber one is an AI-organized, highly rated cocktail bar.(math.) genusNext are 2 natural results; further down are AI results for speakeasies, rooftop bars, and 2 more natural results further down.Organizing is the interspersing of AI sorting and natural resultsThe

There are several overall conclusions:

• With AI sorting.Google is improving the local knowledge graph
• Reduced exposure to natural resultsFor example, the traditional review site Yelp is rarely seen, though it should provide the underlying content and data for AI sorting (instead reddit a lot?!).
• Increase in zero-hit searches.. Clicks on directory and listings type pages will be significantly reduced
• Catalog sites will be more affectedAI will reduce the information gap, and catalog sites, a type of business that relies heavily on the information gap to provide value, will be directly impacted

💬 If your website is also providing value with poor information for revenue, it needs to be rethought: what value can you provide in the age of AI and can it be replaced by AI? 🤔

Reference Links:

* :: Search Off the Record Podcast https://developers.google.com/search/podcasts/search-off-the-record

* :: "Google Speculates If SEO 'Is On A Dying Path'" https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-says-if-seo-is-on-a- dying-path/536543/

* :: Google Search Status Dashboard https://status.search.google.com/incidents/UUq2WSouY7PhSm8zvtD1

* Bing Best category results thread discussion: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/emarketinguk_llm-activity-7280176892706521089-_ssP/

* "Quality / Spam Issues in Some Google Knowledge Graph results?" https://www.seolondonsurrey.co.uk/blog/quality-issues-in-some-google- knowledge-graph-results

* :: First Look: AI-Organized Restaurant Results https://www.nearmedia.co/first-look-ai-organized-restaurant-results-2/