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AI & SEO Trends Update - 20th February 2026

Daniel May
Daniel May Author
20 Feb 2026
4 min read
<span id="hs_cos_wrapper_name" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="text" >AI & SEO Trends Update - 20th February 2026</span>

Search is evolving at pace. From AI-driven reporting to Discover feed updates, this week has delivered a number of shifts that could influence how your brand is surfaced in organic and AI-led search experiences.

Here’s what you need to know and what we’re keeping a close eye on.

Google Discover Core Update Rolling Out

Google has begun rolling out the February 2026 Discover Core Update, focusing specifically on how content appears in the Discover feed rather than traditional organic rankings.

Early insights suggest a stronger emphasis on locally relevant, in-depth, expert-led content, with reduced visibility for sensational or clickbait-style headlines.

What does this means for you

Content that demonstrates genuine expertise, topical authority, and real audience value is increasingly favoured in recommendation-based surfaces.

Discover has always rewarded quality. Now it appears to be doubling down on it.

Read more here:

Continued Ranking Volatility Across SERPs

SEO communities are reporting ongoing ranking fluctuations and noticeable SERP volatility. This is likely linked to wider algorithm refinements and the continued expansion of AI search features.

What this means for you

Short-term ranking movements do not automatically signal a content issue. But they do indicate that Google’s systems are being actively tuned.

In periods like this, a data-led, steady approach is key. Reacting too quickly can do more harm than good.

Read more here:

AI Overview Reporting Coming to Search Console

Google has signalled a phased rollout of AI-powered reporting within Search Console. This includes expanded filtering for generative placements such as AI Overviews and AI Mode.

The update is being released gradually, so you may not yet see it across all properties.

What this means for you

Soon, you will be able to see when your content is being surfaced within AI-generated answers, not just traditional listings.

That additional layer of visibility will allow us to better understand how your brand is performing in AI-driven search journeys and refine strategy accordingly.

Read more here:

Bing AI Performance Report Now Live

Microsoft has launched a public preview of the AI Performance dashboard within Bing Webmaster Tools. This new feature provides first-party insights into how often your content is cited in AI-generated answers across Microsoft Copilot and Bing’s AI summaries.

Importantly, this level of AI citation reporting is not yet available within Google’s ecosystem.

The dashboard includes:

  • Total citations – how often your site is referenced in AI answers
  • Average cited pages – unique pages cited per day
  • Page-level citation activity – which URLs are referenced most
  • Grounding queries – phrases Bing’s AI uses to retrieve your content
  • Visibility trends over time – how AI citations change across reporting periods

What this means for you

For the first time, marketers can access real AI citation metrics from a major search platform.

This is a significant step forward in understanding how content participates in AI-driven search experiences. It moves AI visibility from assumption to measurable data, and that is powerful.

We will be reviewing how this reporting can be incorporated into performance analysis where relevant.

Read more here:

Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) Continues to Matter

Generative Engine Optimisation, or GEO, is gaining momentum as search moves beyond classic SEO.

Put simply, it focuses on structuring and optimising content so it can be pulled into AI-generated responses, whether that is an AI Overview or conversational search result.

What this means for you

Visibility now extends beyond rankings. Being included within AI-driven answers is becoming an essential component of comprehensive search performance.

Optimising for generative systems requires structured content, clear expertise signals, and trustworthy, well-referenced information.

Read more here:

New Visibility Metrics Emerging

Traditional KPIs are no longer the full story.

SEO teams are now tracking:

  • AI answer inclusion rates
  • Brand mentions within generative results
  • Generative answer citations
  • Feature-level visibility across AI-led SERPs

What this means for you

Organic search performance is increasingly about brand presence within AI-generated search experiences, not just rankings and sessions.

As reporting evolves, so will performance measurement. We will ensure your reporting reflects how search really works in 2026, not how it worked five years ago.

Read more here:

AI Summary Risks and Trust Signals

Recent technology reporting has raised concerns around AI-generated summaries, including reliability, misrepresentation of disclaimers, and potential exposure to misleading information if systems are not carefully managed.

What this means for you

Accuracy, authority, and clarity have never been more important.

AI systems rely on trusted, well-structured, high-quality content. Brands that publish transparent and well-researched information are far better positioned to be represented accurately.

Trust is now both a visibility factor and a brand protection strategy.

Read more here:

What You May Notice Over the Coming Weeks

As AI becomes further embedded into search experiences, you may see:

  • Ranking fluctuations not tied to recent content changes
  • Changes in click-through rate from informational queries
  • Stable rankings but reduced organic traffic for certain pages
  • Increased visibility in SERP features without corresponding visits
  • Discover traffic volatility during the core update rollout

These shifts are often linked to how content is interpreted and surfaced within AI-generated answers, particularly AI Overviews.

What We’re Monitoring On Your Behalf

As your SEO partner, we are actively tracking:

  • The rollout of AI Overview reporting within Search Console
  • Bing AI citation data where applicable
  • Traffic and engagement trends across informational and commercial pages
  • SERP feature visibility for priority queries
  • Content performance in AI-influenced search journeys
  • Discover traffic throughout the core update rollout
  • Opportunities to optimise for inclusion in AI-generated summaries

As reporting tools evolve, we will incorporate AI visibility metrics into your regular performance reviews where available.

Search is changing. But with the right strategy, it creates opportunity as much as volatility.

Have a question about how this could impact your SEO?

If you would like to discuss how AI-driven search may influence your current SEO strategy, please email us.

We are here to help you stay visible, measurable, and ahead of the curve.
Daniel May

About the Author: Daniel May

Author

Daniel May is an SEO Executive at Angelfish Marketing, specialising in SEO content optimisation, technical and link building.

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