Key Highlights:
- Google is now testing sponsored ads inside AI Mode, placing them just below Gemini-powered results.
- Early reports show ads appearing both inside and outside Google’s AI Labs interface.
- There’s currently no way to hide these ads, and users fear Google’s “tests” often become permanent.
For years now, many have complained that the top half of the Google search page looks like a blinking billboard. We are used see sponsored cards that pushes real search results far below the fold and visibility of users. And honestly, it is quite frustrating because most of the internet belongs to Google, and people around the globe rely on Google Search for that.
Ads inside AI Mode is real, and Google is officially testing it
Just when it started to felt like like Google’s AI Mode might finally give us a breather from ads, Google is starting to push ads in that too. Yes, ads are creeping into AI Mode as well. Earlier reports claim that Google has quietly started slipping in sponsored cards into AI Mode that appears just below the Gemini-powered results. If you had hoped AI Mode would be clean, distraction-free from the cluttered traditional search, this is exactly the thing that you don’t want to see.
The news came first by @gsterling on X, who spotted that inside the Google’s AI lab. As you can see below, there’s a sponsored card visible for local HVAC repair service provider. However, citing to the former source, @brodieseo shared a post on X noting that it isn’t just inside the Google AI Labs, but it is also viewable outside the experiment and interface.
After reports started to flood in with growing frustration among AI Mode users, Google told 9to5GoogleAds inside Google Labs AI mode that it is indeed testing intermittent ads in AI Mode as part of the announcement that the company made back in May, alongside ads in AI Overview. However, the company has assured users that there are no updates to AI Mode regarding sponsored ads at this point of time.
Also read: Gemini app can now tell if an image is AI-generated, thanks to SynthID
It looks like the sponsored ads will appear at the bottom of AI results in the long run, too
That said, it is interesting that Google isn’t putting these ads at the top of AI Mode, which isn’t the case with ads seen in the Google Search results. To catch you up, the placement of ads mirrors the ad layout that first appeared in AI Overviews earlier this year. In a way, it feels like Google is trying to strike a careful balance by giving users all the helpful, grounded AI answers, while also keeping ads below from users’ sight preventing them from being annoyed.
But if there is one thing we have learned over the past decade is that Google’s “tests” often end up being permanent. That’s exactly why users are worried. Here’s it’s worth noting that Google has recently also added a new feature that allows users to hide sponsored results in traditional search. Although it is supposed to be a step forward into the world of transparency, this does not apply to the AI Mode.
Also read: Google Fully Rolls Out Customizable Video Overviews in NotebookLM
There’s no way to hide ads inside AI Mode for now
In the screenshots posted above, there is no option to hide ads, or for that matter a feedback button to let Google know that this isn’t useful at all. As of now, ads in AI Mode are only appearing for some users, but eventually it will be rolled out in the future is what I think, given how Google works around its tests.
What do you think about Google slowly pushing ads inside AI Mode? It is understandably annoying, but we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
