What does Google say about SEO? /
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping search engine optimization and Google's algorithms. This category compiles Google's official statements regarding AI usage in search, including machine learning technologies, large language models (LLMs), and new generative search experiences like SGE and AI Overview. SEO practitioners will find Google's positions on how AI-generated content (ChatGPT, Gemini, Bard) impacts website rankings and organic visibility. Google has clarified its guidelines concerning artificial intelligence for content creation, distinguishing acceptable practices from manipulative techniques that violate search quality standards. Understanding these official declarations is crucial for adapting SEO strategies to algorithmic evolutions, particularly with the increasing integration of machine learning into ranking systems. This category also covers the impact of AI-generated answers in SERPs, E-E-A-T quality criteria applied to AI-assisted content, and recommendations for maintaining organic search presence in the era of generative search. Essential insights include how Google evaluates content quality regardless of production method, focusing on helpfulness and user value rather than creation process. A must-follow resource for staying ahead in modern search engine optimization.
Quick SEO Quiz

Test your SEO knowledge in 5 questions

Less than a minute. Find out how much you really know about Google search.

🕒 ~1 min 🎯 5 questions
★★★ Is AMP really neutral for Google rankings, or does it hide an invisible visibility lever?
AMP is not a direct ranking factor. However, removing AMP can lead to a drop in traffic if the site benefits from search features like Top Stories that currently require AMP. This will change with the...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Should you really be concerned about redirect chains for Google's crawl?
Google follows a small number of redirects immediately, about five consecutive redirects, and treats them as a single request. Beyond five steps, they are treated as separate requests....
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Can hreflang really be used across multiple distinct domains?
Hreflang does not necessarily have to be limited to a single domain. It is possible to use hreflang across different domains to indicate the relationships between the linguistic or regional versions o...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Why is Google ignoring desktop Core Web Vitals in its ranking algorithm?
The Page Experience ranking factor (including Core Web Vitals) applies to mobile and not to desktop, at least initially. The official announcement concerns only mobile, where performance barriers are ...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Is it true that Google really indexes hidden content in responsive CSS?
If an element is in the DOM but hidden on mobile via responsive CSS, Google can still index it. Google attempts to determine which parts are visible and values them for ranking, but the content in the...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Should you really redirect your old AMP URLs to the new ones?
Redirecting old AMP URLs to the new ones is ideally recommended, but it's less critical than for normal pages. Google refreshes the AMP cache quickly and notices URL changes within a few days....
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Should you block internal search pages to prevent indexing of infinite space?
The issue with internal search pages is that they often create an infinite space: any word can generate a page. While some may resemble useful category pages, the others should be blocked to prevent t...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Should you really add structured data to embedded YouTube videos?
Google can understand certain information from a YouTube iframe and associate it with the page. However, it is highly recommended to use standard video structured data so that Google can properly disp...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Is it true that mobile hidden content is really indexed by Google?
If an element is in the DOM but hidden in mobile responsiveness, Google can still retrieve it for indexing. Google tries to determine which parts are visible for ranking but understands mobile interac...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Is it necessary to redirect your AMP URLs during a change?
When changing AMP URLs, redirections are less critical than for standard URLs because Google refreshes the AMP cache quickly. The delay between discovery and update is a few days, but it is still reco...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Is it really necessary to index the internal search pages on your site?
Internal search pages can be indexed if they are relevant and useful to users, similar to category pages. It is recommended to only select certain important queries and block the rest to avoid an infi...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Should you really add video structured data when you're already embedding YouTube?
Although Google can understand certain information from an embedded YouTube iframe, it is highly recommended to use standard video structured data on the page to ensure that Google can display your pa...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Do featured snippets and rich results really fluctuate randomly?
Featured snippets and rich results can fluctuate over time. Teams continually refine the triggering of these features. These are not technical changes but adjustments aimed at improving relevance and ...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ How many redirects does Google really follow before it splits the crawl?
Google follows about five consecutive redirects immediately and treats them as a single request. If a URL has more than five redirects, they are treated as separate requests....
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★★ Can hreflang really be used across multiple distinct domains?
Hreflang should not be used solely within the same domain. It is possible to use hreflang across different domains to indicate language versions of content....
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Why do most websites never get sitelinks in Google?
Sitelinks are generated automatically. They mainly rely on the site's internal navigation. Improving the understanding of navigation increases the chances of display, but without guarantee. Most sites...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Why do your featured snippets disappear seemingly without a technical reason?
Featured snippets can fluctuate because teams are constantly refining the triggers to enhance relevance. It is not about a missing technical requirement, but rather about improving targeting and relev...
John Mueller Mar 12, 2021
★★ Should you really remove rel='ugc' to reward your trusted contributors?
To recognize regularly reliable contributors, you can remove the rel='ugc' attribute from the links they publish....
Martin Splitt Mar 10, 2021
★★★ Should you really block all user-generated content by default?
By default, block the indexing of pages with user-generated content using a noindex meta robots tag, to control which pages you want to include in the index. Remove it once the content is approved....
Martin Splitt Mar 10, 2021
★★ Can toxic user-generated content really penalize your entire site on Google?
Hateful or vulgar comments can harm the site beyond violations of monetization policies, with the potential to damage your brand and offend your user base....
Martin Splitt Mar 10, 2021
🔔

Get real-time analysis of the latest Google SEO declarations

Be the first to know every time a new official Google statement drops — with full expert analysis.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.