Google revealed that it will soon include ads on its new Search feature, AI Overviews, which could potentially link queries to product placements.
AI Overviews debuted during the recent I/O event, along with other upgrades that were introduced by Google to its users.
Google Search's AI Overviews is Getting Ads
Google announced its plans to test its Search feature by adding shopping ads in the AI Overview results. The experimental feature will mark a new strategy to strengthen the dominance of search advertising to marketers.
In a shared screenshot, a user asking how to get wrinkles out of clothes got an AI-generated summary from various sources on the web. Below the tips, a carousel of ads showing wardrobe sprays was added to encourage users to use an additional product to solve its problem.
According to the company, ads "will have the opportunity to appear within the AI Overview in a section clearly labeled as 'sponsored' when they're relevant to both the query and the information in the AI Overview."
Google to Use Existing Ads, Campaigns for AI Overviews
To seamlessly incorporate ads into an AI search, Google will utilize existing ads from advertisers' campaigns. Advertiser will not have control to opt out of the experiment nor the settings to make their products appear more in the feature.
Google's AI Overviews is one of the company's strategies to prevent users from transitioning to other search sites like ChatGPT. Some users have started to rely on AI chatbots, which can source various information from different websites, for their research.
Over the years, Google's search ad business has continued to become the company's most profitable area. CEO Sundar Pichai firmly believes that they are capable of through challenges and market shifts, especially on new search experiences.
As of writing, Google has yet to announce when it will start rolling out ads for AI Overviews.
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