Google is launching the Google Verified badge in October 2025, replacing multiple Local Services Ads trust signals with one simplified identity for advertisers.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google expanded AI Mode to 180 countries and regions, but English only…

Machines reward overlap.

Google adds agentic bookings and personalization to AI Mode and expands access to 180+ countries in English. The post Google AI Mode Adds Agentic Booking, Expands To More Countries appeared first on Search Engine Journal .

Should small brands prioritize TikTok or Google? This week’s Ask An SEO reframes the question and focuses on what actually moves the needle. The post Ask An SEO: Should Small Brands Go All In On TikTok For Audience Growth?

OpenAI made some updates to its ChatGPT systems, which are impacting the amount of traffic ChatGPT is sending out from its interface. Josh Blyskal from Profounds posted on LinkedIn that “ChatGPT referral traffic is down -52% since July 21st.”

Google is testing a share button and icon for the search results page again. We recently saw Google using a paperclip for this but now Google is sharing a button that says “share.” Google is also doing this in the AI Mode results.

Google seems to be rolling out the Asset Studio, in beta, to some advertisers now. I believe Google announced this at Google Marketing Live a few months back, and now some advertisers are seeing it in their Google Ads accounts.

Google announced it will replace the existing Local Services Ads badges, including Google Guaranteed, Google Screened, and License Verified by Google badges and icons with a new verified badge. This is happening October 20, 2025.

Google has expanded AI Mode to 180 countries, up from being available in the US, UK and India. Google also announced new agentic capabilities and personalized responses, and a new way to share AI Mode responses.