Google’s AI search results are about to get even more ads. On May 21st, the company announced that it’s going to start testing ads in AI Mode, the new AI-powered search feature that just rolled out to everyone in the US.
AI Mode is the new tab in Google Search that opens an AI chatbot-like interface, where you can get a rundown of what you’re searching for, along with links to relevant websites. But these answers could soon have product recommendations and other ads.
As an example, Google says if a user asks AI Mode for tips on how to build a website, the feature will surface a step-by-step guide on how to get started. It might even show a “helpful ad” for a website builder, which will have a “sponsored” label on it. Google says it’s testing search and shopping ads in AI Mode for users on desktop and mobile.
The search giant is also expanding its ads in AI Overviews — the AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of some search results — from mobile to desktop devices. Now, if you’re searching for advice on how to bring small dogs on flights, you might see a “sponsored” list of small dog carriers and links to buy them beneath the AI Overview.
Ads in AI Overviews on desktop are rolling out to everyone in the US starting today. Google also plans to bring ads to English-language AI Overviews in “select countries” later this year.
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