Significant SEO Updates: The End of FAQ Rich Results and The Launch of AI Controls
The SEO landscape experienced a major shift between May and June 2026, when Google announced that FAQ Rich Results are no longer available. This change signals a critical transition, as Google quietly phased out FAQ rich results while introducing innovative AI search controls. These adjustments represent a fundamental reimagining of how Google manages and displays search content.
The End of FAQ Rich Results: Closing a Six-Year Era
Google officially confirmed that FAQ Rich Results are no longer available for all types of websites starting May 7, 2026. The FAQPage schema markup, which SEO professionals have spent years implementing, will no longer yield expandable rich results in search.
This update impacts all categories of websites, including government and health sites that had previously benefited from this feature.
What has changed now? Although FAQPage markup still exists on web pages, Google Search has stopped using it to display expandable FAQ sections. The rich result has completely disappeared from search engine results pages (SERPs).
What else will be removed in June 2026? Google intends to eliminate:
- – The FAQ search appearance entirely
- – The FAQ rich result report in Search Console
- – FAQ support in the Rich Results Test tool
- – FAQ support in the Search Console API
How does this affect your website? Websites that developed content strategies based on the FAQ schema must promptly reassess their tactics. The enhanced SERP visibility that FAQ rich results provided is no longer accessible. Nonetheless, the content of FAQs remains valuable—Google continues to read and index FAQ information, but without the enhanced visual presentation.
What steps should you take now that FAQ Rich Results are gone? Audit your FAQ pages for schema-driven content that was added solely for search visibility. Focus on crafting authentic Q&A content that truly addresses users’ needs. Prioritise content quality over markup tricks.
Unveiling AI Performance Reports in Search Console
In May 2026, Google began rolling out AI performance reports in Search Console. These reports aim to provide insights into how your content performs in AI Overviews and AI Mode—features that SEOs have eagerly anticipated since the introduction of generative search.
This rollout also features an important addition: AI blocking controls. Website owners now have the option to exclude specific pages from AI search features. This change addresses publishers’ concerns about content being used without compensation and gives creators more control over how their work appears in AI responses.
Why does this matter now that FAQ Rich Results are gone? For the first time, Google provides a distinct view of AI-driven traffic, separate from traditional organic clicks. This enables you to determine whether AI Overviews are driving traffic to your content or replacing it.
The UK influence. The introduction of AI controls seems to be shaped by regulatory pressures from the UK government regarding AI content licensing. This suggests that additional regional variations in AI search controls may emerge as governments worldwide address AI and copyright challenges.
Explicit Spam Policies Addressing AI Search Features
Google confirmed in May 2026 that existing spam policies now extend to AI search features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Key warnings include:
- – Manipulating citations for AI search
- – Purchasing mentions or citations
- – Generating content specifically designed to rank in AI responses rather than to meet user needs
This clarification indicates that any attempts at Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) that violate Google’s core principles will face the same penalties as traditional black-hat SEO. The notion of “new channel, new rules” is misleading—Google views AI search as simply another avenue for its established ranking algorithms.
Improvements in AI Mode: Five Key Enhancements to Links
Google introduced five enhancements to linking in AI Mode and AI Overviews during May and June 2026. These improvements aim to make AI-generated responses more link-friendly:
- 1. Improved source attribution — Links are now more prominently displayed within AI responses
- 2. New carousel format — Sources are presented in a swipeable carousel for easier navigation
- 3. Clearer anchor text — The context of links is now more explicit in AI-generated responses
- 4. Diverse sources — AI Mode now highlights a broader range of sources instead of repeating the same domains
- 5. Global rollout of preferred sources — Google has implemented preferred sources across all languages globally
These adjustments directly address publishers’ concerns that AI Overviews were “stealing” traffic without directing readers to the source websites.
An Overview of the May 2026 Core Update
The May 2026 core update was deployed in late May, with significant volatility observed peaking on May 30 and June 2. Google officially acknowledged the rollout on June 4. This update appears to have influenced:
- – Patterns of site reputation abuse, particularly among EU news outlets
- – Signals of content quality across various sectors
- – User experience indicators, with stronger competitors advancing in SERPs
Websites experiencing ranking declines should refrain from making changes until the update is fully rolled out. Google typically requires 2-4 weeks for major core updates to be entirely implemented.
Key Action Steps Following the Removal of FAQ Rich Results
1. Assess your FAQ schema implementation — Remove FAQPage markup if it was added purely for SERP visibility. Retain FAQ content that genuinely meets user needs.
2. Evaluate AI performance reports — Once available in your Search Console, examine how AI features impact your traffic. Compare AI-driven clicks with traditional organic traffic.
3. Explore AI opt-out options — Decide whether excluding AI features is appropriate for certain pages. Weigh brand visibility against traffic consequences.
4. Focus on authentic optimisation — Google has warned against manipulating AI citations. Concentrate on building genuine authority rather than pursuing citation tricks.
5. Monitor the effects of core updates — If impacted by the May 2026 update, document changes before making adjustments. Allow sufficient time for the full rollout to complete.
What Stays the Same After the Elimination of FAQ Rich Results?
Despite the recent changes, fundamental SEO principles remain in effect:
- – Quality content remains crucial — AI systems favour authoritative, well-structured content. The pathway to visibility in AI lies through genuine expertise.
- – Technical excellence is essential — Fast loading times, mobile optimisation, and clean markup are still vital.
- – User experience signals matter — Google has observed that stronger competitors thrive because they provide a superior overall experience.
- – Distributed authority boosts visibility — Brand mentions across platforms such as Wikipedia, news outlets, forums, and social media correlate with a higher likelihood of AI citation.
While the changes in June 2026 seem substantial, they are refinements that continue to reward core behaviours: producing truly valuable content and establishing authentic online authority.
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References.
– [Search Engine Roundtable: June 2026 Google Webmaster Report](https://www.seroundtable.com/june-2026-google-webmaster-report-41446.html)
– [Search Engine Journal: Google Drops FAQ Rich Results](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-drops-faq-rich-results-from-search/574429/)
– [Search Engine Land: Google FAQ Rich Results Deprecation](https://searchengineland.com/google-to-no-longer-support-faq-rich-results-476957)
– [ALM Corp: FAQ Rich Results No Longer Supported](https://almcorp.com/blog/google-faq-rich-results-no-longer-supported/)
– [OrangeMonke: FAQ Rich Results Removed](https://orangemonke.com/blogs/google-drops-faq-rich-results-from-search/)
The article Google Update Report Says FAQ Rich Results Are Gone was first published on https://marketing-tutor.com
The Article FAQ Rich Results Are No Longer in Google Update Report Was Found On https://limitsofstrategy.com
