Major Changes in SEO: The Discontinuation of FAQ Rich Results and the Rise of AI Search Controls
The SEO landscape underwent significant transformation between May and June 2026, marked by Google's pivotal announcement regarding the termination of FAQ Rich Results. This critical shift indicates a substantial overhaul in how Google manages and displays search content, as the company quietly phased out FAQ rich results while introducing new AI search controls.
Goodbye to FAQ Rich Results: The End of a Six-Year Journey
On May 7, 2026, Google officially announced that FAQ Rich Results are no longer available across all website categories. The FAQPage schema markup, which SEO experts have meticulously employed over the years, has ceased to yield expandable rich results in search.
This change affects all types of websites, including governmental and health-related sites that previously benefitted from this feature.
What has changed now? While FAQPage markup remains on web pages, Google Search has stopped using it to showcase expandable FAQ sections. The rich result has effectively vanished from search engine results pages (SERPs).
What will be removed in June 2026? Google plans to eliminate:
- – The FAQ search appearance completely
- – The FAQ rich result report within Search Console
- – FAQ support in the Rich Results Test tool
- – FAQ support in the Search Console API
What does this mean for your website? Websites that developed their content strategies around the FAQ schema need to reassess their methodologies urgently. The enhanced visibility in SERPs that FAQ rich results once provided is no longer an option. However, the content of FAQs remains important—Google will continue to index and evaluate FAQ information, although without the enhanced visual presentation.
What actions should you take now that FAQ Rich Results have been eliminated? Begin by conducting a comprehensive audit of your FAQ pages to pinpoint schema-driven content that was solely created for search visibility. Shift your focus towards developing authentic Q&A content that resonates with your audience's needs. Prioritising content quality is essential; relying on markup tricks is no longer viable.
Introducing AI Performance Reports in Search Console
In May 2026, Google began the rollout of AI performance reports within Search Console, offering valuable insights into the performance of your content in AI Overviews and AI Mode—features that SEO professionals have eagerly anticipated since the advent of generative search.
This rollout also introduced a compelling feature: AI blocking controls. Website owners now have the option to exclude specific pages from AI search functionalities. This change responds to concerns raised by publishers about the utilisation of their content without compensation, granting creators greater control over how their work is represented in AI responses.
Why is this significant in light of the removal of FAQ Rich Results? For the first time, Google provides a distinct view of AI-driven traffic that is separate from traditional organic clicks. This enables you to determine whether AI Overviews are generating traffic to your content or entirely replacing it.
The UK connection. The introduction of AI controls appears to be influenced by regulatory pressures from the UK government regarding AI content licensing. This suggests that variations in AI search controls may emerge as governments worldwide grapple with AI and copyright challenges.
Clarification of Spam Policies Relating to AI Search Features
In May 2026, Google confirmed that existing spam policies apply to AI search features, encompassing AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Key warnings include:
- – Manipulating citations for AI search
- – Purchasing mentions or citations
- – Creating content specifically designed to rank in AI responses rather than addressing user needs
This clarification indicates that any attempts at Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) that violate Google's core principles will incur the same penalties as traditional black-hat SEO. The misconception that “new channel, new rules” applies is inaccurate—Google treats AI search as another avenue for its established ranking algorithms.
Enhancements in AI Mode: Five Key Improvements in Linking
In May and June 2026, Google rolled out five enhancements to linking in AI Mode and AI Overviews. These modifications aim to render AI-generated responses more link-friendly:
- 1. Enhanced source attribution — Links are now more prominently showcased within AI responses
- 2. New carousel format — Sources are displayed in a swipeable carousel for easier access
- 3. Clarified anchor text — The context of links is now clearer in AI-generated responses
- 4. Diverse sources — AI Mode now highlights a wider array of sources rather than repeating the same domains
- 5. Global rollout of preferred sources — Google has extended preferred sources to all languages worldwide
These changes directly address concerns from publishers that AI Overviews were “stealing” traffic without redirecting users to source websites.
A Summary of the May 2026 Core Update
The May 2026 core update was rolled out in late May, with noticeable fluctuations peaking on May 30 and June 2. Google officially acknowledged the rollout on June 4. This update appears to have impacted:
- – Instances of site reputation abuse (particularly among EU news outlets)
- – Indicators of content quality across various sectors
- – User experience signals, resulting in stronger competitors rising in SERPs
Websites experiencing ranking declines should refrain from making changes until the update is fully implemented. Google typically requires 2-4 weeks for significant core updates to be completely rolled out.
Essential Steps to Take Following the Removal of FAQ Rich Results
1. Review your FAQ schema implementation — Remove FAQPage markup if it was solely added for SERP visibility. Retain FAQ content that genuinely serves users.
2. Evaluate AI performance reports — Once accessible in your Search Console, analyse how AI features impact your traffic. Compare AI-driven clicks with standard organic traffic.
3. Investigate AI opt-out options — Consider whether it is advantageous to exclude AI features for certain pages. Weigh brand visibility against potential traffic implications.
4. Emphasise genuine optimisation — Google has explicitly cautioned against manipulating AI citations. Focus on establishing authentic authority rather than pursuing citation shortcuts.
5. Monitor the effects of core updates — If affected by the May 2026 update, document changes prior to making adjustments. Allow time for the complete rollout to finish.
What Remains Unchanged Despite the Removal of FAQ Rich Results?
Despite the recent alterations, fundamental SEO principles still hold true:
- – Quality content is essential — AI systems favour authoritative, well-structured content. Achieving visibility in AI requires demonstrating genuine expertise.
- – Technical proficiency is crucial — Quick loading times, mobile optimisation, and clean markup remain vital.
- – User experience signals are important — Google has noted that stronger competitors succeed by offering a superior overall experience.
- – Distributed authority enhances 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 may seem significant, they are refinements to a system that continues to reward fundamental behaviours: producing genuinely 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
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