October's Digital Debrief

Written by Erika Cole

Screenshot 2026 10 21

What to Know This Month

The TL;DR

This month is all about AI changing how people find and choose businesses, and what's happening behind the scenes with your ads and social media. If you only read one bit, read this:

  • The CMA wants UK Android and Chrome users to be able to pick an AI assistant like ChatGPT as their default search.
  • Since 12th October, Google Ads can add offers from your website to your ads automatically.
  • Anyone can now ask Google's AI Mode to alert them when your prices, stock or opening hours change.
  • Meta has started charging for some features, including clickable links in Instagram posts.

The Latest Shift

ChatGPT Could Become a Default Search Option in the UK

The CMA has proposed new rules that would ask UK Android and Chrome users to pick a default search provider, with AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity on the list for the first time. The consultation closed on 9th October, with a decision expected by the end of the year.

Key Takeaway: Make sure your business information is accurate everywhere AI tools look, not just on Google.

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What to Watch

Google Ads Is Now Adding Your Offers to Your Ads

Since 12th October, Google can pull offers like discounts or "buy one get one free" deals from your website into your ads. It only affects Google Search ads that show your address, and only if you haven't already added your own offers.

Key Takeaway: Make sure the offers on your website are up to date. If you'd rather keep control, we can switch this off for you.

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Worth Knowing

Google Can Now Watch Your Business for Your Customers

AI Mode is Google's chatbot-style search, where you get a written answer instead of a list of links. It now lets anyone ask Google to alert them when something changes, such as a product coming back in stock or a price dropping. That means customers could be told about your new offers or opening hours without visiting your website.

Key Takeaway: Google can only share what it finds, so keep your prices, opening hours and stock up to date on your website and Google Business Profile.

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On Social

Meta Features Now Come with a Price Tag

Meta has launched Meta One, a paid subscription for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The apps are still free, but features like clickable links in Instagram posts, Story scheduling and detailed analytics now sit behind the higher-priced business plan. UK prices are yet to be confirmed.

Key Takeaway: You don't need to sign up, but make the most of free options like your link in bio, and keep an eye on which features you rely on.

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And Finally

AI Trainers Fired for Using AI to Train the AI

OpenAI pays contractors to review real ChatGPT conversations and add a human touch to its answers. But according to tech news site 404 Media, several of them have been fired for secretly using AI to do the job.

Key Takeaway: Even the companies building AI know it works best with real people behind it. Use AI to save time, but make sure what you publish still sounds like you.

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In Case You Missed It

LinkedIn Is Cracking Down on Generic AI Posts

LinkedIn now lets people flag posts as "AI slop", and it says flagged content is getting 40% fewer views. Using AI is fine, but generic posts with no real opinion or experience behind them are being shown to fewer people.

Key Takeaway: If you use AI to help write your posts, always add your own views and examples before publishing.

Read More

In Summary

What This Means for You

More and more of your business is being shown to customers by tools you don't directly control, from Google's ads and AI Mode to AI assistants like ChatGPT. That makes it more important than ever to keep your website and Google Business Profile accurate and up to date. And as LinkedIn's crackdown shows, a real voice still beats generic AI content.

None of this needs a big overhaul. Keep your information current, stay in control of your automated settings and put your own experience into what you publish.

Want to talk through what this means for your business? Just get in touch below.

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