Google's February 2026 Discover Core Update: What It Means for SEO and AI Visibility
Google just released its first-ever Discover-specific core update. Here's what changed, why it matters for traditional SEO, and what the signals mean for AI visibility and GEO strategy.
TLDR: Google released the February 2026 Discover Core Update, the first algorithm update specifically targeting Discover rather than Search. The update prioritizes local relevance, reduces clickbait, and rewards topic-by-topic expertise. These same signals are increasingly important for AI visibility, making this update a preview of where both traditional and generative search are heading.
What Google Actually Changed
Google announced what it's calling the February 2026 Discover Core Update on February 5th. This is notable because it's the first time Google has released a core update specifically for Discover rather than Search. The update is rolling out over two weeks, starting with English language users in the US before expanding globally.
According to Google, the update improves Discover in three specific ways:
Local relevance gets priority. Users will see more content from websites based in their country. This is a significant change for publishers who've built audiences across borders. If you're a UK publication that gets meaningful Discover traffic from US users, expect that to shift.
Clickbait and sensationalism are getting squeezed. Google updated its Discover documentation to explicitly warn against "misleading or exaggerated details in preview content" and "withholding crucial information required to understand what the content is about." Headlines that overpromise and underdeliver will burn faster than before.
Expertise is now evaluated topic by topic. This is the most interesting change. Google's systems now assess expertise on a per-topic basis, not just domain-wide reputation. A site can surface prominently in Discover for one subject while remaining invisible for another. Consistency and depth in specific areas matter more than broad domain authority.
Why a Discover-Specific Update Matters
Discover has always been influenced by Google's core updates, but this is the first time Google has treated it as a distinct channel requiring its own algorithmic refinements. That's a signal worth paying attention to.
Discover isn't keyword-driven. Unlike traditional search where users type queries, Discover surfaces content based on user interests, prior behavior, and source preferences. It's an interest-based feed, more similar to how AI assistants recommend content than how search engines rank pages for specific queries.
When Google decides Discover needs its own update focused on expertise, local relevance, and content quality, they're acknowledging that interest-based content discovery operates differently than query-based search. The same logic applies to AI platforms.
The GEO Connection
Here's where this gets interesting for AI visibility strategy.
The signals Google is emphasizing in this Discover update mirror what AI systems already prioritize when deciding which sources to cite and recommend:
Topic-by-topic expertise over domain authority. AI models don't just look at whether a site is generally authoritative. They evaluate whether a specific piece of content demonstrates genuine knowledge about the topic at hand. A finance blog might get cited for investment advice but ignored when discussing technology. This is exactly what Google is now implementing in Discover.
Original, in-depth content wins. AI systems favor content that adds genuine insight over content that rehashes what's already available. Shallow or opportunistic pieces that jump on trending topics without adding value don't get recommended. Google's Discover update is explicitly targeting the same pattern.
Clickbait tactics backfire. AI models learn from user behavior across millions of interactions. Content that uses exaggerated headlines or withholds information to manipulate clicks performs poorly in AI recommendations because it doesn't satisfy user intent. Google is now applying the same standard to Discover.
Trust signals matter. Both Discover and AI platforms are moving toward evaluating credibility at a granular level. It's not enough to be a trusted brand in general. You need to demonstrate trustworthiness on the specific topic you're covering.
What This Means for Your Strategy
If you're thinking about both SEO and AI visibility, this update reinforces several important principles:
Build depth in your core topics. The topic-by-topic expertise evaluation means you can't rely on general domain authority to carry you. If you want to be visible for a subject, you need consistent, substantive coverage that demonstrates genuine knowledge. One-off articles rarely establish enough signal strength to compete in either Discover or AI recommendations.
Headlines need to deliver on their promise. The gap between what your headline promises and what your content delivers is now a measurable risk factor. This has always been true for user experience, but now it's algorithmically enforced in Discover and implicitly filtered by AI systems that evaluate content quality.
Local expertise has value. The local relevance priority in Discover suggests that geographic specificity matters. Content that speaks to a specific market with local knowledge may outperform generic content that tries to appeal to everyone. This is particularly relevant for B2B brands where market dynamics vary by region.
Track Discover separately from Search. With a Discover-specific update, you could see Discover traffic move without a matching change in Search. Monitor these channels independently in Search Console over the next few weeks. If you see traffic changes, understanding whether they're isolated to Discover or affecting Search as well matters for diagnosis.
The Bigger Picture
Google's decision to release a Discover-specific core update signals that interest-based content discovery is becoming distinct from query-based search. The same user behaviors that drive AI recommendations are now driving Discover's algorithm.
For brands building visibility strategies, the lesson is consistent: depth beats breadth, expertise beats authority, and content that genuinely serves user intent beats content optimized for engagement metrics. These principles apply whether you're optimizing for Google Search, Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or any other platform where users discover information.
The platforms are converging on the same signals. Build content that deserves to be found, and the algorithms, whether traditional or AI-powered, will increasingly find you.
Track Your AI Visibility Alongside Traditional SEO
As Google's algorithms converge with the signals AI platforms use, understanding your visibility across both matters. SearchSeal tracks how your brand appears in AI-generated recommendations across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more, giving you the same granular insight into AI visibility that Search Console provides for traditional search. Start tracking your AI visibility and see how the same content quality signals that drive Discover performance affect your brand's presence in AI recommendations.
