SEO News Recap (April–May 2026): Google AI Mode in SERPs, How to Build Agent-Friendly Websites & Gemini in Chrome

May 11
40 mins

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Episode Description

Jack Chambers-Ward delivers an SEO news recap covering key stories from April 2026 into early May.

He highlights Google testing AI Mode directly in the “All” tab, AI Mode’s agentic restaurant bookings, AI Mode side-by-side browsing in Chrome desktop (US), and Google’s Audio Overviews appearing on SERPs beyond Search Labs.

He also discusses Google’s official guidance on building agent-friendly websites—how agents use screenshots, raw HTML, and the accessibility tree—and notes Gemini in Chrome rolling out worldwide, potentially boosting Gemini adoption.


Google tests AI Mode in the main search tab - https://brodieclark.com/notes/#apr-2026 

Google Search Console impressions error - https://xcancel.com/brodieseo/status/2040311550406472112 

Agentic restaurant bookings - https://xcancel.com/Google/status/2042626811083853857 

AI Mode can open in side-by-side view - https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/ai-mode-chrome/ 

Google tests Audio Overviews - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-testing-audio-overviews-wild-41207.html 

How to build agent-friendly websites - https://web.dev/articles/ai-agent-site-ux 

Gemini in Chrome - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nataliawitczyk_yes-gemini-integrated-in-chrome-is-now-rolling-activity-7456789716202508288-He8k/


Get your tickets for SearchNorwichXL: https://searchnorwich.org/ 


Time stamps

00:00 Intro

01:22 AI Mode hits main search tab

05:38 Search Console impressions bug

07:35 AI restaurant booking agents

11:09 AI Mode adds split-screen mode in Chrome

18:47 Audio Overviews on SERPs

21:51 How to build agent-friendly websites

30:15 Gemini in Chrome goes global

38:28 Wrap up

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