Skip to main content

Trying to influence AI search can get your site banned.

Trying to influence AI search can get your site banned.

by

May 15, 2026, 4:42 PM UTC

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

Stevie Bonifield

is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.

Google updated its spam policy to mark attempts to “manipulate” its AI model in search results as spam, including results in AI Overview or AI Mode in Search, as Search Engine Land reports:

“In the context of Google Search, spam refers to techniques used to deceive users or manipulate our Search systems into featuring content prominently, such as attempting to manipulate Search systems into ranking content highly or attempting to manipulate generative AI responses in Google Search.”

Some users have been trying to influence AI search responses , using tactics like biased “best-of” listicles or “recommendation poisoning,” which injects LLMs with…