The SEO Update by Yoast – October 2026

Topics & sources

SEO & AI news

1. Google Search Console adds multimodal filter for image-based searches​
2. Google has deployed a new AI spam detector called SAFE​
3. Google tells sites to fact-check AI content before publishing​
4. AI platforms take different approaches to UTM parameters for referral tracking​:
   • Google Gemini Adds UTM Parameters For Referral Attribution
   • OpenAI Drops UTM Parameters From ChatGPT Results (GPT-6)
5. Google adds fake author warning to helpful content guidance​
6. Google’s Mueller says AI crawlers access sitemaps and RSS​
7. OpenAI to watermark ChatGPT text in the EU and opens API opt-in​
8. WordPress 7.1.3 fixes seven vulnerabilities and one critical flaw​
9. Google drops review snippets for healthcare web pages​
10. WordPress MCP Adapter now available as a canonical plugin on WordPress.org​
11. Claude’s new rules target fake sources built to sway AI answers​
12. Google reveals the UGC Fresh Data Program​
13. OpenAI and Anthropic revenue figures reshape expectations for AI growth​:
    1. OpenAI annualised revenues $20bn less than previously signalled
    2. Anthropic tells investors quarterly revenue up 50% to $16.8bn ahead of IPO
14. Google Discover to undergo dramatic changes​
15. ChatGPT’s most-cited sites tilt toward primary sources, data shows​
16. Google explains how they rank PDFs and what it means for SEO/GEO​
17. Google’s Universal Cart is live: how carts get to your store​
18. PHP2Shell crisis: critical vulnerabilities trigger global security response​

Also in the news…

1. Google AI Overviews return for many large brand names
2. Google is fighting SERP tracking. AI agents may make it worse
3. Google Search Console lets you filter by multiple countries
4. The industry mourns the loss of Nick Wilsdon, loved by industry
5. Introducing Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full: frontier models for agents
6. Bing Webmaster Tools sorts AI search queries into topics

Yoast news

1. Yoast AI Generate for image alt text: from flagged to fixed
2. Yoast SEO one billion download celebration: thank you users​