Google confirmed that ads are coming to AI Mode, ending any hope for an ad-free AI search experience. Robby Stein, Vice President of Product for Google Search, announced that the company has already started experimenting with Google AI Mode ads within its Gemini-powered search experiences.
Google AI Mode ads will appear contextually alongside AI-generated responses, including text and shopping ads pulled from existing campaigns like Search, Shopping, and Performance Max. The ads cannot be opted out of, as advertising remains integral to Google’s revenue model. Similar to how Google’s Gemini AI expanded across multiple products, ads will now follow users into every AI-powered search experience.
The company released its first AI-generated ad promoting AI Mode, showcasing how users can research and book holiday travel using the feature. Google is currently in early testing but plans wider rollouts soon.
The Privacy Problem Gets Worse
Google ads are already personalized based on extensive user data. The company tracks everything users do across its services, from search queries to location history. However, Google AI Mode ads have the potential to be even more personalized and invasive due to how we interact with AI versus regular search.
Traditional search queries tend to be brief and “transactional.” AI conversations are different. Users share detailed context, ask follow-up questions, and reveal personal preferences in ways they never would with traditional search. When you ask AI Mode to help plan a vacation, you’re not just searching for flights. You’re explaining budget constraints, dietary restrictions, travel dates, and preferences.
The more natural AI conversations feel, the more people share without thinking about it. Questions about your personal health or financial advise will be linked to your ad profile. AI Mode turns every interaction into a data collection opportunity that makes traditional search tracking look primitive.
Google’s integration of Gemini AI across Chrome and other services means these deeply personal AI conversations will happen everywhere, creating unprecedented behavioral insight for advertisers.
