Semrush Updates: AI Visibility Index, MCP Tools, and Google Business Profile API

In October 2026, Semrush introduced several updates to its analytics tools and APIs. The company released a new edition of the AI Visibility Index covering the UK and US markets, expanded its library of instructions for AI agents through MCP, and added new methods for managing Google Business Profile.

The updates cover three areas: brand visibility in generative search, AI-powered marketing analytics automation, and management of companies' local presence.

AI Visibility Index Adds a Comparison of Brands in UK and US AI Search

On October 13, 2026, Semrush introduced a new edition of its AI Visibility Index at the Spotlight London conference.

The research covers seven months, from January through July 2026, and analyzes responses from ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode, and Google AI Overviews.

The methodology includes fixed monthly samples of 2.5 million prompts in the UK and 25 million prompts in the US, as well as a separate, expanded dataset of Google AI Overviews results.

What the New AI Visibility Index Measures

The new edition allows users to examine:

Brand Mentions: Which brands appear in AI-generated answers.
Source Citations: Which websites and domains AI systems use as sources.
AI Platform Differences: How brand mentions differ across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google's products.
Geographic Differences: How brand recommendations vary between the UK and the US.
Competitive Visibility: Which brands compete for visibility in responses to the same user prompts.

One of Semrush's key findings is that high visibility on one AI platform does not guarantee comparable results on another. Significant differences also exist between countries.

Semrush also distinguishes between brand mentions and website citations: an AI system may recommend a company without linking to its official domain.

The AI Visibility Index remains a research product and a public competitive analysis tool. Its data should not be interpreted as a measure of the actual number of user queries about a specific brand or as proof of the commercial impact of generative engine optimization (GEO).

Semrush MCP Adds a Library of More Than 50 Ready-to-Use Prompts for AI Agents

On October 15, 2026, Semrush updated its Semrush MCP documentation, adding a Prompts and Skills section.

The new library includes more than 50 ready-to-use prompts that users can copy into their AI tools to work with Semrush marketing data.

In addition, Semrush introduced Skills: instructions that help AI agents determine which Semrush MCP tools to call for a particular task.

How Marketers Can Use the New MCP Resources

For example, a marketer can use a connected AI assistant to analyze competitors, research search queries, or review a website's SEO metrics.

Instead of manually selecting individual API methods, the agent receives instructions on the sequence of steps and selection of appropriate tools.

Semrush MCP itself was introduced earlier. The October change expands ready-made use cases; it is not the integration's initial launch.

Semrush Expands Google Business Profile Management Through Its API

On October 14, 2026, Semrush added new methods to the Google Business Profile Tool API.

Users can now create, edit, and delete Google Business Profile posts through the API.

New Methods for Managing Google Business Profile Posts

Create GBP Post: Create a post.
Update GBP Post: Update an existing post.
Delete GBP Post: Delete a post.

Methods for Managing Suggested Profile Changes

Semrush also introduced tools for handling suggested changes to business information:

Get GBP Suggestions: Retrieve suggested changes to business information.
Manage GBP Suggestion: Manage suggested changes.

For example, a company with several dozen locations can automate the publication of local offers and establish a centralized review process for changes to its location information.

These methods expand the integration capabilities of Semrush Local with enterprise location management systems.

What Is Semrush?

Semrush is a digital marketing and competitive intelligence platform that brings together tools for SEO, keyword research, website analysis, competitor monitoring, local marketing, and AI Visibility.

The company's main products include Semrush SEO Toolkit, Traffic & Market Toolkit, AI Visibility Toolkit, Semrush Local, and enterprise analytics solutions.

In April 2026, Adobe completed its acquisition of Semrush, expanding its capabilities for analyzing brand visibility in search engines and generative AI.

The October updates reflect Semrush's development in three directions: AI search research, access to marketing data through AI agents, and programmatic management of companies' digital presence.