Local GBP business links now must direct users to dedicated landing pages in order to maintain visibility and avoid policy violations.

Google now automatically verifies and removes non-compliant business links daily.

Larger public GBP layouts can be connected to a larger trend for horizontal, focused displays that work in AI reviews

Google's AI Mode is now available to all US users under the search bar and in Google Search apps, providing detailed answers through updates like Deep Search and Gemini 2.5, increasing search engagement and offering a tailored experience on a separate tab rather than default search results.

Google shows AI business summaries in knowledge panels to describe what the business is and what it offers.

The Google local feature, which showed questions and answers on local panels is not working for most businesses.

Bing tests "You might also like" ads in featured snippets, raising concerns from users.

Google enhances Business Profile verification emails with detailed failure reasons and clear guidance.

Google review counts are temporarily incorrect. No action is needed - they're working on a fix.

Texting & WhatsApp for GBP expands from international to US markets.

Google's search share drops below 90% globally, while Bing gains slightly; the larger impact remains uncertain.

Google now lets users add their restaurant's menu via a PDF without replacing the current

Google launches AI-powered restaurant search results, organizing dining recommendations for improved personalized search experience.

Google now requires service-area businesses selling age-restricted products to have a physical storefront to maintain their Business Profiles, ensuring compliance with age verification and regulatory standards.

DOJ pushes Google to divest Chrome, limit Android Search, and end Apple search deals amid antitrust lawsuit

Google’s November 2024 core update shows mixed impact; most sites report little changes as of writing.

Google expands AI Overviews to 100+ countries, supporting multiple languages for enhanced global search experiences.

Google has updated their UI for reviews by adding an edit and delete button next you reviews made to a GBP listing.

In the first major update since July, Google has added new selectable business categories for several businesses

Microsoft has expanded Bing's generative search for queries detailed search queries. Users in the United States can try searching “Bing generative search.” This AI-driven feature combines Bing results with advanced language models for tailored answers, with Deep Search gradually rolling out in beta to improve search accuracy.