Google’s June 2026 SEO Updates report states that FAQ Rich Results are gone and have been replaced by AI Controls Launch
The SEO landscape shifted dramatically in May-June 2026 as Google says that FAQ Rich Results are gone! Google quietly killed FAQ rich results while simultaneously rolling out unprecedented AI search controls. These aren’t minor tweaks—they signal a fundamental restructuring of how Google processes and displays search content.
FAQ Rich Results are gone: The End of a Six-Year Era
Google indicates that FAQ Rich Results are gone across all site types on May 7, 2026. The FAQPage schema markup that SEOs spent years implementing no longer triggers dropdown rich results in search.
This affects every site type, including government and health websites that previously received special treatment.
What changed. FAQPage markup still exists on pages, but Google Search no longer uses it to display expandable FAQ sections. The rich result simply vanished from SERPs.
What’s disappearing in June 2026. Google will remove:
- – FAQ search appearance entirely
- – FAQ rich result report in Search Console
- – FAQ support in the Rich Results Test tool
- – FAQ support in the Search Console API
The practical impact. Sites that built content strategies around the FAQ schema need immediate reassessment. The expanded SERP real estate that FAQ rich results provided is gone. However, FAQ content itself remains valuable—Google still reads and indexes FAQ information, just without the special visual treatment.
What to do now since the FAQ Rich Results are gone? Audit your FAQ pages for pure schema-driven content (added solely for SERP visibility). Focus on providing genuine Q&A content that serves users. The content still matters; the markup trick doesn’t.
Search Console Gets AI Performance Reports
Google began rolling out AI performance reports in Search Console during May 2026. These reports show how your content performs in AI Overviews and AI Mode—something SEOs have requested since generative search launched.
The rollout came with an unexpected twist: AI blocking controls. Site owners can now opt specific pages out of AI search features. This responds to publisher concerns about content being used without compensation and gives creators more control over how their work appears in AI responses.
Why it matters since the FAQ Rich Results are gone? For the first time, Google provides direct visibility into AI-driven traffic separate from traditional organic clicks. You’ll finally see whether AI Overviews are driving traffic to your content or replacing it.
The UK connection. The AI controls rollout appears tied to regulatory pressure from the UK government regarding AI content licensing. This suggests more regional variations in AI search controls may emerge as governments worldwide address AI and copyright concerns.
Spam Policies Now Explicitly Cover AI Search
Google confirmed in May 2026 that existing spam policies apply to AI search features. This includes AI Overviews and AI Mode.
The announcement specifically warned against:
- – Manipulating citations for AI search
- – Buying mentions or citations
- – Creating content specifically designed to rank in AI responses rather than serve users
This clarifies that GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) attempts that violate Google’s core principles will face the same penalties as traditional black-hat SEO. The “new channel, new rules” thinking is wrong—Google considers AI search just another surface for their core ranking algorithms.
Links in AI Mode: Five New Improvements
Google rolled out five link improvements in AI Mode and AI Overviews during May-June 2026. The changes focus on making AI-generated responses more link-friendly:
- 1. Better source attribution — Links now appear more prominently within AI responses
- 2. New carousel format — Sources display in a swipeable carousel for easier exploration
- 3. Improved anchor text — Link context is clearer in AI-generated answers
- 4. Source diversity — AI Mode now shows more varied sources rather than repeating the same domains
- 5. Preferred sources expansion — Google rolled out preferred sources to all languages globally
These changes directly address publisher complaints that AI Overviews were “stealing” traffic without sending readers to source websites.
The May 2026 Core Update: A Quick Recap
The May 2026 core update rolled out through late May, with volatility hitting hardest on May 30 and June 2. Google officially confirmed the rollout on June 4. The update appears to have affected:
- – Site reputation abuse patterns (particularly for EU news sites)
- – Content quality signals across multiple verticals
- – UX signals, with stronger competitors pulling ahead on SERPs
Sites that experienced ranking drops should wait for the update to fully complete before making changes. Google typically takes 2-4 weeks for major core updates to finish rolling out.
Key Action Items to Follow now that the FAQ Rich Results are gone.
1. Audit FAQ schema implementation — Remove FAQPage markup if it was added purely for SERP benefits. Keep FAQ content that genuinely serves users.
2. Review AI performance reports — Once available in your Search Console, analyze how AI features impact your traffic. Compare AI-driven clicks versus traditional organic.
3. Decide on AI opt-out — Evaluate whether blocking AI features makes sense for specific pages. Consider brand visibility versus traffic impact.
4. Focus on authentic optimization — Google explicitly warned against gaming AI citations. Build genuine authority rather than pursuing citation manipulation.
5. Monitor core update impact — If affected by the May 2026 update, document changes before making adjustments. Wait for full rollout completion.
What stays the Same now that the FAQ Rich Results are gone?
Despite the changes, fundamental SEO principles remain intact:
- – Quality content wins — AI systems cite authoritative, well-structured content. The path to AI visibility runs through genuine expertise.
- – Technical excellence matters — Fast loading, mobile optimization, and clean markup remain essential.
- – User experience signals count — Google explicitly noted that stronger competitors pull ahead because the whole experience is better.
- – Distributed authority builds — Brand mentions across Wikipedia, news, forums, and social platforms continue correlating with AI citation likelihood.
The June 2026 changes feel dramatic, but they’re refinements to a system that still rewards the same core behaviours: creating genuinely useful content and building authentic online authority.
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Sources.
– [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/)
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