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52.6%

of searches in France show an answer from Google before the links

The rules change, here's what's new

Google, Meta and AI search change their rules every month. We follow them for you and tell you in one line what it changes.

See the latest changes

What just changed and what's been announced

A page of linksOne answer, then the links

Screenshot of a real Google search: the AI Overview answers at the top of the page, above the links

AI Overviews and AI Mode have reached Google Search in France, on phones, on computers and in the Google app.

What it means for you: On a simple question, people can read the answer without ever visiting your site.

Read the brief

  1. November 5, 2026

    Announced, on hold, no new date

    Meta

    Meta puts its AI clause for advertisers on hold

    Meta's AI clause

    1. planned for October 30
    2. then November 20
    3. paused, no new date

    Planned for October 30, then November 20, this clause is now on hold with no new date. Meta's current terms still apply.

    What it means for you: Check now which Advantage+ enhancements, Meta's automatic edits, are turned on for your ads. Some may be on even if you never chose them.

    Sources:Meta Business HelpUK Competition and Markets AuthorityThe KeywordNieman Lab

    Read the brief

  2. October 30, 2026

    Announced, targeted for 2027

    Google

    A shared signal to opt out of AI training, targeted for 2027

    Say no to AI in one go

    robots.txt
    User-agent: GPTBotDisallow: /User-agent: ClaudeBotDisallow: /User-agent: Google-ExtendedDisallow: /User-agent: CCBotDisallow: /One shared signal

    Google plans to support a shared signal in robots.txt, the small file that gives instructions to bots. It would tell several companies at once whether your site can be used to train their AI.

    What it means for you: Nothing to change today. Your current settings still apply.

    Source:Google Search Central

    Read the brief

  3. October 28, 2026

    Google

    Ads in Google's AI Mode: ten more countries, not France

    France is not on the list

    • Australia
    • Canada
    • India
    • Kenya
    • Malaysia
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore

    By the end of the year Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom

    Google is bringing AI Mode ads to ten more countries, including Canada and India. The UK, Brazil and Mexico are due to follow by the end of the year.

    What it means for you: In France, there's nothing to do for now. Where it's open, your existing search campaigns can show up there with no setup.

    Sources:Google Ads & Commerce BlogGoogle Ads Help

    Read the brief

Searching no longer means clicking a link

Google answers in place of the links, and ChatGPT serves more than a billion people every week. Two measurements on Google and one on ChatGPT, each with its source.

Read the brief

−5.7%

Half of the 963 large sites tracked lost more than this in clicks, for the same number of views, in nine days.

Clicks before
Clicks now

Source: Ahrefs (in French)963 large sites tracked, August 17, 2026

−23.1%

clicks for the same number of views, in nine days, on sites where more than one search in five shows an AI Overview.

Clicks before
Clicks now

Source: Ahrefs (in French)963 large sites tracked, August 17, 2026

The words behind these changes in two sentences

What is an AI Overview?
It's a summary written by Google's AI, shown in the results with links to websites. It only appears when Google decides it adds something to classic search.
Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode arrive in France
How is AI Mode different?
AI Mode is a search you have as a conversation, with a detailed answer, links and follow-up questions. It's most useful when you need to explore, reason or compare.
Ads in Google's AI Mode: ten more countries, not France
What does GEO mean?
GEO stands for generative engine optimization: making sure AI engines can find your site and cite it. For Google, that's still search visibility work.
An llms.txt file changes nothing for Google
What is Search Console?
It's a free Google service for tracking how your site shows up in search. It shows which searches bring you visits and flags problems to fix.
Search Console: a report that shows your site in AI answers
What is Advantage+?
It's Meta's set of tools that hands part of your campaigns to its AI: audience, placements, budget, ads. Some enhancements may be on by default, and each one can be turned off on its own.
Meta puts its AI clause for advertisers on hold
What is a contextual ad?
It's an ad chosen by what surrounds it, like the topic of a page or a conversation. It doesn't need to know anything about the person seeing it.
ChatGPT has been showing ads in France since August 24