Generating performance reports has always been a challenge for search engine optimization (SEO) professionals. Before the availability of advanced reporting tools, extracting meaningful data from Google Search Console (GSC) was a labor-intensive process that required manual effort and expertise.
But now, AI meets SEO in a groundbreaking way. On December 4, 2025, Google introduced a new experimental feature inside the GSC Performance report called AI-powered configuration. This innovative tool streamlines the reporting process, enabling users to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to generate comprehensive and actionable insights with ease.
What Makes Performance Report Building Challenging?
Google Search Console Performance report is one of the most essential tools in a marketer’s arsenal. It reveals which search queries drive traffic to a site, identifies best-performing pages, understands user behavior across devices and locations, tracks overall site health, and provides deep, actionable data on a website’s performance.
Image from Google for Developers
However, generating specific performance reports in GSC can be tedious, often presenting several difficulties:
- Manual Filter Selection – Users must manually navigate and apply multiple filters for queries, pages, countries, devices, and date ranges to find specific insights.
- Time-Consuming Comparisons – Setting up complex comparisons was a multi-step, time-intensive process.
- Difficulty Isolating Specific Data – While GSC provides extensive raw data, isolating performance for specific scenarios often requires manual effort or advanced regex filtering.
- Focus on Configuration Over Insight – Analysts often spend more time configuring the data views than on the actual interpretation of trends and insights development.
- High Barrier for Beginners – The complexity filter options and mechanics may be overwhelming for non-technical site owners or beginners, increasing the risk of inaccurate filtering and data misinterpretation.
Given Google’s 90.82% dominance in search, maintaining efficiency in GSC reports becomes indispensable for monitoring large quantities of data in a sound SEO strategy.
What is GSC AI-Powered Configuration?
The AI-powered configuration tool is one of Google’s two key Search Console Experimental Features 2026. This revolutionary feature enhances data analysis within the “Search results” Performance report by allowing users to configure custom reports using natural language prompts. Instead of manually selecting filters, marketers can describe the type of analysis they need, and the system generates the corresponding report automatically.
Image from Google Search Central
GSC AI-powered configuration’s capabilities are built on two main foundations, each shaping how the new feature works in practice:
1. Natural Language Processing (NLP)
The most notable shift introduced by AI-powered configuration is the use of natural language SEO reporting. Users can simply type what they want to analyze, and the tool interprets those inputs to construct a tailored performance report.
AI-powered configuration aligns with broader industry adoption of NLP-driven tools, with automatic summarization already holding an 18% share of the NLP market. Within GSC, this capability enables faster interpretation of large datasets and clearer extraction of insights.
2. Filters and Report Options
The AI-powered configuration can generate reports across a wide range of filters, including queries, pages, countries, devices, and date ranges. Additionally, it can also apply filters for search appearances and comparisons between two time periods. Reports can be generated using any of the four available metrics: clicks, impressions, average click-through rate (CTR), and average position.
How to Use the New AI-Powered Configuration
Using the GSC Performance report’s AI-powered configuration is straightforward:
- Log in to Google Search Console (GSC).
- Select the website property.
- Navigate to the Performance section in the left-hand menu.
- Select Search Results.
- Click the filter icon in the Performance report header to open the AI-powered configuration panel.
- Type a request in the prompt field. The AI tool will suggest relevant filters, metrics, and comparison settings to help you optimize your results.
- Review and apply the suggested configuration to generate the report.
The simple AI-powered configuration function makes generating reports faster and easier, making it a user-friendly option for beginners and non-technical site owners.
Sample Queries to Try
There are many ways to leverage AI-powered configuration for efficient report generation. Below is a series of sample queries marketers can try:
Pro Tip: Don’t stop at single-dimension queries; consider combining filters like device + region + keyword to uncover deeper patterns. For example:
- Compare mobile vs desktop queries for branded products in Canada over the past 60 days.
What this Feature Means for SEO Workflows
The new AI-powered configuration feature is set to transform how site owners and SEO teams interact with Search Consoles, monitor their performance, and respond to changes in Google’s search algorithms.
1. Faster Custom Reports Creation
Gone are the days when SEO teams manually looked for and selected filters to create custom reports. The new tool streamlines the process by allowing AI to automatically generate reports based on what the user describes. In fact, 91% of marketers are already using AI to uncover insights more efficiently.
2. Enhanced Performance Comparisons
Instant date-range comparisons can help uncover seasonal trends and patterns tied to search updates, which is helpful for businesses that monitor monthly or quarterly traffic changes. Additionally, the feature simplifies tracking AI mode in GSC by quickly comparing data patterns.
3. Increased Productivity
Automating manual filtering tasks allows SEO teams to focus more on substantial matters, such as interpreting reports and creating upgraded strategies. Moreover, this enables the marketing agency Philippines to work across multiple accounts to better manage analytics.
Image from Piktochart
AI-Powered Configuration Limitations
According to Google, AI-powered configuration is currently rolling out to a limited set of websites and will gradually expand over time. Since this is a new feature, there are several limitations:
- Scope – AI-powered configuration only supports the Performance report for Search results. It is not available for Discover and News reports.
- Number of Requests – Each user is limited to 20 requests per day.
- Availability – Only a small percentage of Search Console users can access the feature for testing and feedback.
- Functionality – The feature is designed only for configurations, like report filters and comparisons. It cannot perform table sorting, data exports, or custom annotations.
- Event-Based Comparisons – AI-powered configuration cannot filter results based on time around specific, external major events, such as sports events.
- Accuracy – Since it is powered by AI, the feature may misinterpret results. This means the tool still requires human oversight to ensure correct results.
Turn Queries to Quick Wins with DMP
The new AI-powered configuration feature in Google Search Console is only the beginning of a new era of digital marketing. In a world where AI meets SEO, efficiency is becoming the key ingredient for effective and successful SEO campaigns today and in the future.
At Digital Marketing Philippines (DMP), we simplify the numbers so you can focus on growth. Our expert team combines Google’s new configuration with our proven reporting expertise to uncover practical insights that lead to smarter results. With over a decade of providing premium SEO services to international brands, we are ready to help you climb your way to the top.
Precision starts here. Contact us today to start your company’s next SEO chapter.
References:
https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2025/12/ai-powered-configuration
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-pulse-google-updates-console-maps-ai-mode-flow/562591/
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-pulse-google-updates-console-maps-ai-mode-flow/562591
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7576553#AI_powered_configuration
Jomer B. Gregorio is a well-rounded expert when it comes digital marketing. Jomer is also known as a semantic SEO evangelist and practitioner. Check out our Digital Marketing Services today and let us help you in achieving positive and profitable results for your business.