Yandex’s New Ambassador Role and Advanced Algorithms

In a detailed interview with SEOnews, Mikhail Slivinsky, the newly appointed Ambassador of Internet Sites at Yandex Search, discusses the company's evolving search algorithms, its approach to AI-generated content, and the introduction of a new ambassadorial role to enhance transparency and community engagement in search operations.

In a recent dialogue with SEOnews, Mikhail Slivinsky, Yandex Search’s Ambassador of Internet Sites, shed light on the evolving landscape of search engines, particularly how Yandex is refining its algorithms and embracing neural network functions to better serve both webmasters and users.

The introduction of the ambassador role, according to Slivinsky, was driven by the community’s demand for more transparency and direct dialogue regarding search functionalities. This position aims to bridge the gap between Yandex’s search development teams and the webmaster community, ensuring that feedback and insights from the latter are effectively communicated and considered in search developments.

Slivinsky, who previously led the webmaster service at Yandex, emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of content recognized by the search engine. These improvements are part of broader updates aimed at promoting high-quality, expert-level content, particularly in sensitive fields such as medicine where accuracy is crucial.

He also addressed the topic of AI-generated content. Yandex does not penalize the use of neural networks per se but focuses on the quality of the content they produce. If AI-generated content meets high-quality standards and proves beneficial for users, it is welcomed. However, low-quality content, whether produced by humans or AI, is likely to be downranked.

In his role, Slivinsky has already begun to receive queries and feedback from SEO specialists, marketers, and site owners, reflecting a proactive community eager to improve their visibility and performance in search results. He highlighted the importance of having a constructive, informed dialogue with the community, which has been instrumental in shaping Yandex’s approach to search optimization.

Regarding the future of search, Slivinsky believes that neural networks will play an increasingly significant role. The challenge lies not only in improving search technologies but also in ensuring that content producers can effectively compete and maintain quality in a rapidly changing digital environment.

The conversation with Slivinsky underscores Yandex’s commitment to refining its search algorithms in response to user and webmaster feedback, ensuring that the search experience continues to evolve in a way that benefits all stakeholders involved.