In December 2025, Google held Search Central Live in Zurich. This conference is an annual event where you can watch presentations from different Google Search teams and network with professionals. Various topics were discussed at the recent convention, such as eCommerce, data analytics, and the nuances of the search console. And among those topics was the focus of this article: Google Discover.
If this is your first time interacting with RollerAds, it’s worth mentioning that Google Discover traffic is one of the areas we work with regularly. So when there are updates related to the platform, we try to share them with our readers and clients as part of that ongoing conversation. With that said, let’s take a look at what’s new.
Changes to Google Discover in 2026
At its core, Google Discover’s main mission will remain the same: helping users find more of what they love. But from the technical standpoint, 2026 promises to be big for Discover. Publishers and users can expect:
- More content from creators, like social posts and videos from Instagram and YouTube Shorts.
- Users will be able to follow profiles.
- Google Discover will offer even deeper personalization.
Andy Almeida, from Google’s Trust and Safety team, said they will further improve the overall quality of Google Discover with new protection features, taking into account users’ reviews and feedback, and helping publishers maintain compliance with Discover’s appearance requirements.
Even though there were no updates on when Google Discover will fully roll out on desktop, it’s still clear that the team takes its job seriously, with updates to the overall user experience and strict moderation to ensure readers get only high-quality content. Speaking of which, the modern content-creation field can’t be discussed without addressing the elephant in the room. In this case, the AI-generated elephant.
The future of AI-generated content on Google Discover
As AI started to gain traction in late 2022, it has also become popular to generate images with it, using simple prompts. Initial creations of AI were clunky, surreal, and even horrifying, but over time, the algorithms have become better. With an elaborate prompt, you can generate images, videos, or guides, such as a step-by-step language-learning plan. In fact, this has already affected major language learning apps, such as Duolingo, which lost 38% in its stock shares.
Despite its omnipresence, generative content has an issue, which even has a special term for it: AI slop. It describes cheap, low-quality content made with little to no regard for actual value and without any control over the creation process. Many companies and individuals prefer to go this route, as it is faster and cheaper to produce content with AI.
AI slop can be seen everywhere nowadays, and Google Discover is not an exception. The Discover team noticed this and took the issue seriously. Besides enforcing an even stricter moderation, Andy Almeida also listed what is not to be tolerated on Google Discover:
- Harmful content. This includes medical, financial, or any type of advice that can endanger a person’s life. This type of content is usually accompanied by low-value images made by AI.
- Lowbrow content. Usually includes AI-generated low-risk fake news, short-form videos, and cheaply produced memes.
- AI-generated images in thumbnails. This one is also self-explanatory. AI fatigue is real, and even if your content has real value, users will lose all interest because the first thing they see is an AI-generated image. Remember that first impression matters and enables any further contacts.
However, AI is not a red flag on its own; you simply ought to control it. When you use it as an assistant, there’s no harm, so Google Discover doesn’t ban such practices. If you don’t know how to best implement the tech in your work, you can read our article about GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), where we share valuable tips and strategies on how to properly utilize AI and adapt to the AI-powered search era.
Adapting to the changes
As we previously said, at its core, Google Discover will remain the same. But considering how fast the content-creating field is changing due to the flood of AI-generated content, no matter who you are, a niche blogger or a major news outlet, be ready for even stricter regulations. Gladly, besides pointing out what isn’t allowed on Google Discover, Andy Almeida also listed what content is welcome:
- Casual topics. Google considers everyday content like weather, sports, and finance (just straight facts, no speculation or advice along the lines of “if you invest in this now…”) to be of high quality, as it provides real value to users, even if it is comparatively small.
- High-quality articles. As much as we hate to say, but human content has a “living” sense to it. We tend to err, add personal opinions here and there, maintain some continuity in our flow of thought, provide arguments to support our point of view, and generally write for a reason.
- Niche content. Google highly encourages inspiring content. If you’re passionate about something and want to share your hobby with the world, then go for it, and Discover will help you to reach your audience.
Whether you plan or already produce the content that meets these criteria, you don’t have to worry too much about changes in policies. However, sometimes making good content isn’t enough to appear on Google Discover. If you haven’t had any luck with Discover yet, it’s probably time to try the strategy our publishers use to boost their Discover presence.
Monetizing Discover traffic with RollerAds
Getting traffic from Google Discover is a great thing—but turning that traffic into consistent revenue is where real growth begins. At RollerAds, we help publishers make the most of their Discover audiences with high-converting formats like push notifications, OnClick (pop ads), and Direct Click.
Push notifications, however, deserve special attention. They’re not just an ad format—they’re a long-term asset. With push, you build your own subscriber base, meaning you’re not solely dependent on algorithm updates or traffic fluctuations. Even better, RollerAds push notifications aren’t limited to promotional ads. You can send your own custom messages: product updates, new articles, exclusive content, or special offers.
This creates an ongoing connection with your audience. Subscribers stay curious about what’s coming next, engagement increases, and your returning traffic grows. As engagement signals strengthen, Discover performance can improve as well and bring in new users who then enter the same cycle.
When you combine strong editorial standards with thoughtful monetization and performance-driven optimization, Google Discover traffic becomes more than just visibility—it becomes a sustainable revenue engine.
Instead of conclusion
2026 promises to be big for Google Discover: more features, a wider selection of content, including videos, and stronger moderation to bring users only the high-value articles. It is clear that one of the main priorities for the Google Discover team is regulating AI-generated content, as its oversaturation in the market eventually lowers the quality of the end product.
Do you want to tap into Discover too? While there is never a guarantee, there’s always a way to increase your chances of getting there. Join RollerAds to boost your Discover visibility and make the most of your audience.
