Welcome to this week’s SEO Pulse, covering key developments impacting publisher control over AI features, how AI Overviews process queries, and AI model tradeoffs affecting content workflows. Google Explores Enabling Sites to Opt Out of AI Search Features Google announced it is considering updates to allow websites to opt out of AI-powered search features. This announcement coincides with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launching a consultation on potential new requirements for Google Search. Ron Eden, Google’s principal product manager, stated the company is “exploring updates to our controls to let sites specifically opt out of Search generative AI features, ” though no timeline or technical details were provided. For SEOs, this is significant because publishers and regulators have long opposed AI Overviews, seeking opt-out options without losing general search visibility. A BuzzStream report revealed that 79% of top news publishers block at least one AI training bot, reflecting industry pushback. The key uncertainty remains what “opt out of AI search features” technically means—whether it applies to AI Overviews, AI Mode, or both, and whether this affects site visibility or only AI summaries. Industry commentary highlights the regulatory context and potential impacts on publishers. David Skok of The Logic noted this marks the first regulatory consultation allowing publishers to opt out of AI Overviews or AI training use without general search exclusion. The CMA’s Matthew Allsop described it as a "meaningful choice" for publishers. The debate centers on tradeoffs involved and Google’s willingness to provide transparency on where content appears in AI features. Google AI Overviews Now Powered by Gemini 3 Google has globally upgraded AI Overviews to use the Gemini 3 model where available, adding direct access to AI Mode conversations. Robby Stein, Google Search’s VP of Product, announced that AI Overviews now reach over 1 billion users, and Gemini 3 brings advanced reasoning capabilities similar to those powering AI Mode.

For SEOs, this upgrade enables AI Overviews to better address complex queries at the top of search results and offers users a seamless transition into AI Mode for follow-up questions. While this improves user experience within Google’s AI environment, it may reduce click-throughs to publisher sites as users remain inside Google’s interfaces longer. This shift reflects Google taking greater control over the search journey within its own platforms. Sam Altman Admits OpenAI “Screwed Up” GPT-5. 2 Writing Quality At a developer town hall, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that GPT-5. 2 produces writing that is “unwieldy” and “hard to read” compared to GPT-4. 5, explaining they prioritized improving technical capabilities like intelligence, reasoning, coding, and engineering over prose quality. This admission matters for SEOs using ChatGPT in content workflows, as GPT-5. 2 excels in complex reasoning but often yields mechanical-sounding text. Altman emphasized this was a deliberate tradeoff, clarifying that AI development involves balancing writing quality against other technical benchmarks. Consequently, users should match AI models to their specific needs—employing GPT-5. 2 for technical tasks and GPT-4. 5 or future versions for content requiring natural, engaging writing. Altman hopes future GPT-5. x releases will improve writing quality but offered no timeline. Theme of the Week: Control and Tradeoffs This week’s stories share a common theme of platforms making choices about priorities and control. Google’s exploration of publisher opt-outs responds to regulatory pressure, while the Gemini 3 rollout enhances user experience but reduces external control. Altman’s frankness about GPT-5. 2’s quality issues highlights the tradeoffs inherent in AI development. Publishers and SEOs must understand which controls they can leverage—such as opting out or selecting appropriate models—while recognizing that broader platform decisions shape the environment they operate within. Top Stories This Week: • Google May Let Sites Opt Out of AI Search Features • Google AI Overviews Now Powered by Gemini 3 • Sam Altman Says OpenAI “Screwed Up” GPT-5. 2 Writing Quality Additional Resources: For further insight on publisher dynamics and AI visibility, see related articles: • Google AI Overviews Impact on Publishers & How to Adapt Into 2026 • Most Major News Publishers Block AI Training & Retrieval Bots • Google Launches Personal Intelligence in AI Mode [Featured Image credit: Accogliente Design/Shutterstock]