Google is changing how it shows ads in search because of artificial intelligence. The company is testing new ways to add ads in its AI-powered search mode. This comes as Google tries to compete with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and keep its ad business strong in a world with more AI.
AI chatbots like ChatGPT give answers without showing ads, which challenges Google. Ads are very important for Google since they make up more than two-thirds of its income. Google needs to find ways to make money from AI search, just like it did with old search methods.
Google’s new AI Mode lets users talk to the search engine and get answers in videos, sounds, or charts. The company is trying to include ads in these AI answers so they fit better with what people want to see. Last year, Google added ads to AI-generated summaries called Overviews on mobile phones, and now it is adding these ads to desktop users in the US. More than 1.5 billion people see these AI summaries every month.
Google is also giving new AI tools to advertisers. These tools help businesses make better ads and target the right customers. Google’s main rival, Meta, has similar tools. Using AI helps ads reach people more precisely and can lead to more sales.
Experts say Google could start charging for AI tools and data about what people search for. This data is very valuable for showing ads that match users’ interests. With new rules from governments about ads, making money from AI tools and data can help Google keep growing.
One big challenge is making clear which results come from ads and which come from AI without ads. How Google handles this will be very important for the future of search.
Google’s changes show the company adapting to new AI technology while trying to keep its top spot in online ads.
