Goodbye SERPs? With AI as a search assistant

By Yann Faurie · Updated on

Key points, November 2026

This 2023 article argued that web search would shift gradually, not within weeks. Three years on:

  • SERPs are still here, but enriched: generated answers (AI Overviews), conversational AI Mode and cited links. Bard became Gemini in February 2024; SGE and Project Magi gave way to these features.
  • Result depth has shrunk: Google stopped supporting the num=100 parameter (observed September 2025), disrupting rank trackers.
  • 2026 updates: core updates from 27 March to 8 April, then 21 May to 2 June. The answer is unchanged: original content, identifiable authors, proof of experience.
  • SEO widens into GEO: being cited in generative answers needs clear entities, structured data faithful to visible content and reliable brand mentions.
  • Mobile-first indexing and Core Web Vitals (LCP 2.5 s, INP 200 ms, CLS 0.1) remain unchanged.

Full text in French: Bye-bye les SERPs ? Avec l'IA comme assistant de recherche