Hi all! It’s time to beat the heat; I’ve been closely monitoring the hottest industry updates this month. Get ready for an information-packed discovery! First up, Google is experimenting with AI-powered product carousels and article recommendations to enhance user discovery.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Bing Copilot is adding new answer buttons for image and video searches. On the AI front, Meta has launched its latest Llama language models, driving impressive performance gains. YouTube is also rolling out new monetisation options for creators. Stay tuned as I unpack all these developments and more in detail.
Table of Contents
1. YouTube Outlines Monetization Options for Creators
YouTube has new monetisation options for creators, making it easier for them to earn revenue through their channels. The updates include enhanced advertising features, subscription models, and merchandise integration. These changes aim to empower creators with diverse income streams, fostering a more sustainable ecosystem for content creators on the platform.
2. WhatsApp Adds New Ways for Businesses To Send Promotional DMs
In a significant update, WhatsApp now enables businesses to send promotional direct messages using Business Broadcast Ads. This feature allows companies to efficiently reach previous contacts, enhancing customer engagement and boosting marketing efforts.
3. WhatsApp Adds Music for Status Updates
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature allowing users to add music to their status updates. This enhancement enables more expressive and engaging content sharing, enhancing user interaction. By integrating music, WhatsApp aims to compete with other social media platforms, providing users with creative tools to customise their updates and connect with their audience in a vibrant way.
4. Google AI Overviews With Al Explanation & Related Images Button
A notable update is the addition of an “AI Explanation” button and “Related Images” button within Google’s AI overviews. The AI Explanation button provides users with more details on how the AI-generated overview was created, giving them greater transparency. The Related Images button allows users to explore visuals related to the query, enhancing the information-gathering experience.
5. Google Tests Quick View Links On Hotel/Lodging Packs/Carousels
One notable change is the testing of “quick view” links within hotel and lodging search results. These links allow users to quickly access key information about a hotel, such as room rates, availability, and amenities, without leaving the SERP. This enhancement aims to provide a more seamless and efficient hotel search experience for users.
6. Google Tests Blue Website Button For Knowledge Panels
Google is testing a blue “Website” button within knowledge panels. This new feature aims to make it easier for users to navigate directly to a business or entity’s official website from the search results page. This change could have significant implications for digital marketers, as it provides a more prominent and visually distinct call-to-action for users to engage with a brand’s online presence.
7. Google Tests Contactless Label In Place Of Curbside Pickup
The latest updates from Google that could impact businesses, one such change is the testing of a “contactless” label in place of “curbside pickup” in Google’s local search results. This new label aims to provide more accurate information for consumers looking for contactless shopping options, especially during the ongoing pandemic.
8. X Tests Expanded DM Functionality, Including Full Encryption and File Sharing
X, formerly Twitter, is testing expanded direct messaging (DM) functionality, including full end-to-end encryption, file sharing, unlock codes, and vanishing messages. These new features aim to enhance X’s messaging service and compete with dedicated messaging apps as part of Elon Musk’s vision to transform X into an ‘everything app’ like WeChat.
9. Meta Launches Llama 4 Models, Driving Improved AI Performance
Meta has launched four new Llama 4 AI models, including the powerful Llama 4 Behemoth with over 2 trillion parameters. These models deliver significant performance improvements across a range of tasks, enabled by Meta’s massive AI infrastructure. The new Llama 4 models are being open-sourced, allowing developers to leverage Meta’s advancements to build more capable AI systems.
10. Bing Copilot Answer Buttons To Image & Video Search
Bing’s introduction of “Copilot” answer buttons in their image and video search results. These buttons provide users with quick, concise answers to their queries directly on the search engine results page. This feature aims to enhance the user experience by delivering relevant information without the need to navigate to additional pages.
11. Bing Tests New Sitelinks Hover Shadow & Related Search Designs
Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, is currently testing some new design updates, including a hover shadow effect for sitelinks and a revised layout for related search suggestions. These visual enhancements aim to improve the user experience and make it easier for searchers to navigate Bing’s search results.
12. Google AI Overviews Tests Check Important Info Disclaimer
Google’s testing of an “AI overviews” feature that provides a disclaimer about important information. This feature aims to inform users when the search results may not contain all the necessary details, encouraging them to further research the topic.
13. Google AI Summaries Now In Local Knowledge Panels
Google’s AI-generated review summaries in local knowledge panels. This new functionality allows Google to provide concise, AI-powered summaries of customer reviews directly on the search results page.
14. Google Testing New Label In Search Results Snippets
Google is currently testing a new label in search results snippets designed to highlight content more effectively and enhance user experience. This fresh label, which appears alongside rich search results, aims to provide users with clearer information about the context of the results they see.
15. Google Expands Access To Conversational AI in Search
Google has expanded access to its conversational AI mode in Search, allowing users in the U.S. to interact with a ChatGPT-like interface to discover new websites and businesses, ask follow-up questions, and receive personalised answers powered by Google’s Gemini AI systems.
16. Threads Reaches 350M Active Users
Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, has now surpassed 350 million monthly active users, closing the gap on X (Twitter). With a 35% increase in time spent, Threads is positioning itself as a major player in the real-time social media market, bolstered by new sports content partnerships and a more open approach to political discussions.
17. Google Tests New Shipping, Returns & Payment Section In Retail Knowledge Panel
Google is testing a new section in the retail knowledge panel that displays shipping, returns, and payment information more prominently. This feature provides customers with crucial details upfront, improving the shopping experience and potentially driving more conversions for merchants.
18. Google Tests New Shopping Ads Design
Google is testing a new visual design for its Shopping ads format, moving away from the traditional carousel layout to a more image-pack style presentation. The new design features product images displayed in rows, creating a more visually engaging and streamlined shopping experience for users.
19.YouTube Adds Simplified Links to Its CTV App, Upload Progress Display in Studio
YouTube has added several new features to improve the user experience on its connected TV (CTV) app, including a “Top Channels” display, a “Continue Your Search” shelf, and a dedicated Podcasts tab. The platform has also updated its Studio interface to provide creators with a better visual representation of their video upload progress.
20. Google Tests Linking Reviews Button On Local Panel To AI Overviews
Google is testing a new feature that links the “Reviews” button in a business’s local panel to an AI-generated overview, rather than taking users directly to the review listings. This could streamline the user experience but raises questions about Google’s reliance on AI to summarise reviews instead of displaying the full feedback.
21. Bing Tests Half Underline For Search Bar
Bing is testing a new search bar design that features a shortened underline, about half the previous length. While a minor visual change, this update reflects Bing’s ongoing efforts to optimise its interface and user experience.