Google has launched a new experiment involving the placement of ads within search results generated by artificial intelligence, specifically utilizing the Gemini technology. This was reported by 9to5Google.
The first to notice this innovation was SEO consultant Brodie Clark. According to his findings, ads appear at the bottom of responses generated by the chatbot and are labeled as "sponsored" content. These links look almost identical to standard links created by AI.
Currently, the new AI search interface does not offer an option to hide these advertising blocks. Google previously announced a feature to hide sponsored results in traditional search, but it seems these settings do not apply to AI mode.
Google has stated that this is merely a test announced back in May of this year. They assure that ads should not be visible to all users. The company also informed 9to5Google that they do not have plans for full integration of ads in AI mode at this time. Nevertheless, this experiment indicates that Google is exploring monetization avenues for its AI services.
The testing of ads in AI mode has already sparked discussions about the future of such solutions. Chatbots are currently positioned as personal assistants, and the introduction of ads in their responses may negatively affect user perception.