Observed Signal · Dec 5, 2025 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Google Adds AI-Powered Search Console Configuration
Google is testing a new AI-powered feature inside Search Console that lets SEOs configure and retrieve performance reports through natural-language prompts. In the experimental setup, users can open an AI-powered configuration panel on the right edge of the interface, next to the existing filters, and ask for data tailored to specific queries or time periods. For example, a prompt like “Show the CTR of queries containing ‘how to’ or ‘what is’ in Canada last week” prompts the tool to generate the corresponding Performance reports with automatically applied filters and settings. This capability follows Google's Custom Annotations and aims to streamline data discovery for SEO work by reducing manual search and drill-down. The feature was announced by Google's Search Central Account on LinkedIn and may not be immediately available to all users. The article from OnlineMarketing.de presents the capability as a productivity boost for SEO teams. If widely rolled out, it could impact how SEOs interact with performance data.
Technical Release (experimental AI feature in Google Search Console)
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Google is testing an AI-powered configuration in Search Console performance reports (experimental).
- Users can input natural-language prompts to generate performance reports with automated filters/settings.
- The AI-powered config appears via a right-edge editing bar next to the filters tab in the experiment.
- An example prompt shown: 'Show the CTR of queries containing ‘how to’ or ‘what is’ in Canada last week.'
- The feature was announced by Google's Search Central Account on LinkedIn and may not be available to all users yet.
Connected Companies & Entities
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Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Google Introduces Custom Annotations in Search Console
Google has added Custom Annotations to the Performance reports in Google Search Console, enabling SEO teams to annotate factors that influence traffic and rankings directly within performance charts. The feature acts as a personal SEO notebook, allowing notes about events such as core updates, content strategy changes, agency work, site migrations, holidays, or campaigns, tied to specific date ranges. Annotations appear as reference points in the Performance chart and are visible to all users with access to the property. To add an annotation, users can right-click in the Performance diagram, select a date, and enter a note limited to 120 characters. Hanns Kronenberg, Head of SEO at Chefkoch, referenced the feature on LinkedIn and discussed potential use cases like AI-related changes and canonical updates. This update enhances documentation of context around search performance for SEO teams.
Google Adds AI Performance Reports and Opt-Out
Google has introduced AI Performance Reports in Search Console, offering website owners visibility into how their content appears in generative search features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode. The reports surface impressions, the specific URLs cited in AI answers, countries, devices, and time-series visibility (hour/day/week/month), but currently do not report clicks. Google is also testing a Search Console toggle that lets publishers opt out of having their content included in AI Overviews, AI Mode and related generative surfaces; sites that opt out will no longer receive impressions or traffic from those generative features while classic search rankings are unchanged. The rollout and opt-out test start with a subset of sites in the United Kingdom. Google says AI Overviews reaches over 2.5 billion monthly users and AI Mode exceeds one billion monthly users.
Google adds side-by-side AI Mode to Chrome Search
Google has launched a new Search experience in Chrome that lets users run an AI Mode side‑by‑side with opened websites and search results, keeping conversational search intent while browsing. The UI reduces tab switching and supports follow‑up questions, one‑click reusable prompts (“Skills”), and the ability to add prior tabs, images or files as extra search context. The rollout begins in the U.S. with wider region plans; features such as Gemini integration, Nano Banana 2 image generation tied to Personal Intelligence, and desktop shortcuts (Google App on Windows, Gemini on Mac) were announced. Industry voices warn publishers this could reduce dwell time and split user attention — potentially harming on‑site ad engagement and SEO traffic. Google markets the update for product comparisons and streamlined research workflows.
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