Key Points:
- Introduction of Ads in AI Overviews: Google is testing ads within AI-generated search summaries for US users.
- Relevance-Based Ad Placement: Ads will appear when they align with both the search query and AI overview content.
- Automatic Ad Eligibility: Current Google advertisers will automatically be eligible for these AI Overview ad placements.
Google’s AI-enhanced search results, designed to provide concise answers to user queries, are now being monetized. In a recent update, Google announced that it will begin testing search and shopping ads within AI Overviews, initially targeting users in the United States.
The company’s example showcased how this integration will work. For a search like “How do I get wrinkles out of clothes?” the AI overview presents practical suggestions, followed by a “Sponsored” section displaying relevant products such as wrinkle sprays available from retailers like Walmart and Instacart.
Google emphasizes that ads will be featured in AI Overviews only when they are pertinent to both the user’s query and the AI-generated information. Advertisers with ongoing campaigns through Google will automatically qualify for inclusion in these AI Overviews. As this initiative progresses, Google plans to experiment with new formats and seek feedback from advertisers and the broader industry.
While the exact timeline for these ad tests remains unspecified, this move has raised concerns about potential clutter in AI-generated summaries, potentially undermining the swift, streamlined search experience that AI aims to offer.
