Google rolled out its third core algorithm update of 2025 starting December 11th. The change caused significant disruption for online publishers during the peak holiday season.
Many news and content websites reported severe traffic drops from Google's Discover feed. Some publishers experienced declines ranging from 70% to 85%, impacting a crucial period for advertising revenue.
Separately, Google delayed the full replacement of Google Assistant with its advanced AI, Gemini, on mobile devices. The company pushed the timeline beyond the end of 2025 to ensure a smoother transition.
Google also announced an agreement to acquire Intersect, an energy and data center firm, for $4.75 billion. This acquisition secures power for Google’s growing AI infrastructure needs.