Google’s AI Overviews, a feature that provides AI-written summaries for certain queries, will soon include advertisements. In a recent blog post, Google shared more details about how these ads will appear. According to the company, it will start testing Search and Shopping ads in AI Overviews for users in the U.S.
The blog post also included an animated demo of how the ads would look. For example, a query on how to straighten up clothes would display various products for unwrinkling in the AI Overview.
Google clarified that advertisers do not need to take any action to turn on these ads. The sponsored ads will appear within the AI Overview section, clearly labeled as “sponsored,” when they are relevant to both the query and the information in the AI Overview.
While this move may benefit advertisers and Google’s monetization efforts, it may not be great news for users. Google Search is already known for its abundance of ads, and the addition of more ads in a feature that cannot be directly turned off may be seen as intrusive. However, for Google, AI Overviews are a way to keep users from seeking answers on platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Wired pointed out that Microsoft’s Bing search engine already includes ads within its Bing Copilot chatbot. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent in Google Search, these ads and other forms of advertising may become increasingly important for the company’s long-term strategy.
Overall, Google’s decision to introduce ads in AI Overviews reflects its ongoing efforts to leverage artificial intelligence and monetize its search platform. While this may raise concerns among users, it also highlights the evolving landscape of digital advertising and the role that AI is playing in shaping user experiences.
