Weekly Briefing - October 20, 2026: Measure the Outcome

This week, Google put more source links into AI search while ChatGPT referral tags briefly made real visits harder to identify. Google Ads added channel controls, Google began testing ads for Personal Intelligence users, Meta launched a reservation-style brand format, and Meta's new business terms added website-crawling rights. The Expert Panel Review adds context from Barry Schwartz, Anu Adegbola, Cedric Huesler, Profound, Mark Ritson, and legal experts. Official documentation and original reporting establish the facts. Chapters 00:00 - Opening and weekly theme 00:37 - Six things to know 01:25 - Links and reporting in AI search 02:48 - ChatGPT referral attribution 04:07 - Google Ads channel controls 05:09 - Ads inside Personal Intelligence 06:13 - Meta Ads Super Burst 07:18 - Meta website-crawling terms 08:30 - What to say to clients References Google's AI Search link updates Profound's ChatGPT attribution analysis Google Ads channel controls Google Search connected-app guidance Meta's brand-advertising announcement Meta Commercial Terms preview Meta crawler documentation Search Influence helps organizations earn visibility and leads through search, paid media, and AI discovery. Learn more at Search Influence.