Yoast’s February 2026 SEO Update is part of our monthly webinar series covering the latest developments in search and AI. In each session, we’ll cover the most important news stories from the last month and examine how they impact your search strategy.
Hosted by Carolyn Shelby And Alex Mosswhich this month’s update focused on AI-driven changes in search, new agent workflowsAnd The latest core updates from Google. Below you will find a summary of the topics discussed and what they mean for your strategy.
Watch the full recap on YouTube to hear Carolyn and Alex delve deeper into these topics, answer audience questions and share real-world examples.
SEO and AI news from February 2026
Search engines expand AI reporting and website controls
Google and Bing have launched new tools for publishers to manage AI interactions. Bings AI performance report shows how often Copilot cites your website, including citation counts and search queries. Google now allows publishers to do this Control AI access via robots.txt use Google-Extended.
Actionable takeaway:
- Monitor AI citation reports in Bing Webmaster Tools to track visibility
- Check yours
robots.txtand AI access settings to adapt to your strategy
Debate about Markdown, AI agents and machine-readable content
OpenAI started this Codex appallowing users to manage multiple AI agents for complex tasks. WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg suggested Providing content in Markdown format to improve AI understanding while Cloudflare introduced a Markdown-based approach for AI bots. However, John Mueller of Google rejected the Markdown files as increasing creep load.
Actionable takeaway:
- Simplify your website structure to make content more accessible to AI agents
- If your site is too complex, explore Markdown or structured data alternatives, but prioritize fixing underlying issues first
Is Google cracking down on self-promoting listicles?
Lily Ray identified a Pattern where websites lose visibility due to self-promotional listicles (e.g. “Top 20 SEO Agencies in the USA,” with the publisher ranked #1). Google appears to punish manipulative tactics.
Actionable takeaway:
- Avoid self-serving listicles. Use objective criteria and a transparent methodology when creating comparison content
Microsoft’s vision for a sustainable agent web
Microsoft laid it out Agent search approachwith an emphasis on structured data, concise content and publisher compensation for AI-driven traffic. The shift from human clicks to AI-driven retrieval was highlighted as a key trend.
Actionable takeaway:
- Optimize for machine-readable actions (e.g. structured data, clear CTAs)
- Prepare for AI-driven monetization models (e.g. pay for citations)
Meta’s Avacado agent and OpenClaw integration
Meta tests avocadoa new AI agent that integrates OpenClaw and Manus for workflow automation. This reflects a broader push toward omnichannel AI interactions.
Actionable takeaway:
- Maintain consistent messaging across all platforms (website, social, email) to improve AI understanding
ChatGPT introduces ads
ChatGPT began Serving ads to free userswhere OpenAI charges advertisers based on ad impressions rather than clicks. The move mirrors traditional search ad models but raises user experience concerns.
Actionable takeaway:
- Monitor how AI-driven ad placements impact user engagement and brand visibility
WebMCP is a new protocol for AI agents
Chrome introduced WebMCPa protocol that allows AI agents to interact with websites via machine-readable actions (e.g. form submissions). Early adoption is limited, but signals a shift toward agent-first web design.
Actionable takeaway:
- Review your website’s underlying code for clarity (e.g. semantic HTML, structured data).
- Proceed with caution. WebMCP is experimental and can pose a security risk if configured incorrectly
Bing Webmaster Tools introduces the AI Performance Report
Bings AI performance report Now shows how often Copilot cites your website, including search queries and pages cited. The tool combines traditional SEO metrics with AI-driven search.
Actionable takeaway:
- Set up Bing Webmaster Tools if you haven’t already
- Compare Bing AI data with Google Search Console to identify gaps
Google AI mode introduces UCP-powered checkout
Google’s AI mode is now supported UCP supported checkoutallowing agents to complete purchases on behalf of users. Early adopters include Etsy, Wayfair and Walmart.
Actionable takeaway:
- If you’re in e-commerce, value structured product data and fast loading times to benefit from agent trading
OpenClaw, OpenAI and the future of AI agents
The rise of OpenClaw and OpenAI’s advances underscore a shift toward websites that provide features (not just pages) to AI agents. Early experiments show that agents interact with websites through machine-readable actions.
Actionable takeaway:
- Focus on clear site structure and consistent data to ensure reliable AI interpretation
What to focus on in 2026
Yoast’s February SEO update highlighted four key priorities:
- Optimize for AI-driven search: Use structured data and Markdown to improve AI understanding
- Build brand authority across all channels: Ensure consistent messaging for AI agents for reinforcement
- Prepare for agent trading: Prioritize structured product data and fast loading times
- Avoid low-quality AI content: Google is cracking down on manipulative tactics like self-promotion listicles
Sign up for the next Yoast SEO update
The next Yoast SEO update is online March 24, 2026, 4:00 p.m. CET / 10:00 a.m. EST. Register here to join the live discussion or receive the recording.