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Yesterday — 27 February 2026Main stream

Google patent hints it could replace your landing pages with AI versions

27 February 2026 at 20:44

A Google patent suggests Search may take you from the results page to a super-personalized AI-generated page that answers your query instead of sending you to a website.

Patent. The patent, AI-generated content page tailored to a specific user, was filed by Google about a year ago and granted last month.

This patent describes a system that uses AI to automatically create a custom landing page when you perform a search. Instead of sending you to a generic homepage, it dynamically generates a page tailored to your intent and the organization’s content.

Patent abstract. Here is a copy of the abstract of the patent:

“Techniques for generating an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated page for a first organization. The system can include a machine-learned model configured to generate the AI-generated page. The system can receive from a user device associated with a user account, the user query. Additionally, the system can generate a search result page for the user query. The search result page can include a first result associated with a first landing page of the first organization. The system can calculate a landing page score for the first landing page. The system can generate an updated search result page based on the landing page score exceeding a threshold value, the updated search result page having a navigation link to an AI-generated page for the first organization. The system can cause a presentation, on a display of the user device, the updated search result page.”

Example. Here’s a fictitious example: You search for “waterproof hiking boots for wide feet” on a large retailer like REI or Amazon. Normally, clicking a result takes you to a generic Hiking Boots page, and you have to filter it yourself. Instead, Google could use AI to generate a new page that delivers a more customized, pre-filtered result.

Credits. This was spotted by Brandon Lazovic and posted by Joshua Squires on LinkedIn. Squires wrote:

  • “In short, Google would use AI to generate a page that looks like your website but rebuilds the entire structure of a page dynamically, in real time, and places it at the top of the SERP. This throws up all kinds of red flags to me.”

Glenn Gabe wrote:

  • “If you thought AIOs angered people, just wait for AI-generated landing pages from Google. Yes, Google could create new landing pages from the SERPs if yours isn’t good enough (based on this patent).”

And Lily Ray added that this is “Terrifying to be honest.”

Why we care. This is just a patent and doesn’t mean Google is doing this now or will in the future. Some may see it as similar to AI Overviews or AI Mode. Either way, it’s worth reading if you want insight into how Google is thinking.

Google February 2026 Discover core update is now complete

27 February 2026 at 14:36

Google’s Google February 2026 Discover core update finished rolling out today. It began on Feb. 5 and completed 21 days later.

This was the first confirmed Google Search update this year and the first Discover-only update Google has ever announced. Core updates typically affect both Search and Discover, but this one impacted only Google Discover content.

U.S. and English. The update affects only English-language users in the U.S., Google said. It will expand to all countries and languages in the coming months.

What’s changed. Google said the Discover core update will improve the “experience in a few key ways,” including:

  • Showing users more locally relevant content from websites based in their country.
  • Reducing sensational content and clickbait.
  • Highlighting more in-depth, original, and timely content from sites with demonstrated expertise in a given area, based on Google’s understanding of a site’s content.

Because the update prioritizes locally relevant content, it may reduce traffic for non-U.S. websites that publish news for a U.S. audience. That impact may lessen or disappear as the update expands globally.

Google also made some tweaks to the Get on Discover help page, so review that page as well.

How Google Discover determines expertiseGoogle added that many sites demonstrate deep knowledge across a wide range of subjects, and its systems are built to identify expertise on a topic-by-topic basis. As a result, any site can appear in Discover, whether it covers multiple areas or focuses deeply on a single topic. Google shared an example:

  • “A local news site with a dedicated gardening section could have established expertise in gardening, even though it covers other topics. In contrast, a movie review site that wrote a single article about gardening would likely not.”

More details. Google said it will continue to “show content that’s personalized based on people’s creator and source preferences.”

  • During testing, Google found that “people find the Discover experience more useful and worthwhile with this update.”

Why we care. If you get traffic from Google Discover, you may have noticed changes. This should affect only your Discover traffic and apply only to U.S. English. There’s also been significant volatility in Google Search organic results, but Google hasn’t confirmed those reports. Google recommends reading its general guidance on core updates and the Get on Discover help page.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Google fixed a serving issue with search results

25 February 2026 at 16:08

Google confirmed it had an issue serving search results earlier this morning at around 1:30 am ET on Wednesday, February 25th. The issue seemed to be fixed very quickly and we didn’t see a huge number of complaints about the issue.

Google posted a notice saying, “We fixed the issue with serving search results. There will be no more updates.”

Why we care. If your website noticed a drop in traffic around midnight last night, it may be related to this serving issue.

Again, it seems the serving issue was discovered and fixed very quickly but just because Google posted the issue and resolved it within a minute, it does not mean the serving issue was only a minute. Rather, this is when Google posted the notices. Google did say the issue lasted about 15 minutes.

Here is a screenshot of the status dashboard notice:

Google Search Console page indexing report missing data prior to December 15

23 February 2026 at 16:04
Screenshot of Google Search Console

Google’s page indexing report within Google Search Console is missing a block of data earlier than December 15th. It seems like some sort of reporting bug that is impacting all users.

Google has not yet commented on the reporting issue but again, it is widespread and impacting everyone.

What it looks like. Here is a screenshot from Vijay on X but you can see it yourself by checking your page indexing report:

Why we care. I’d check back in a day or two to see if this data returns or if Google posts a notice about the issue. Right now, no one is able to access that data, so everyone is in the “same boat.”

Google will hopefully fix the data, and you can run your reporting and analysis if you have not done so yet for those data ranges.

Update: John Mueller from Google replied saying, “This is a side-effect of the latency issue from early December. This isn’t a new or separate issue.”

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