Google has started inserting ads into query results from its AI mode, which was originally spotted by an SEO consultant named Brody Clark. These ads appear at the bottom of search results in Gemini-powered AI mode. They are labeled as “sponsored” content, but otherwise look similar to other links generated by chatbots.
Google says this is just a test and ads should not appear for all users. The company also told this 9to5Google There are no current plans to completely update the AI mode to include ads. Those are nice words, but AI has to make money somehow and advertising seems like a good way to do it.
For now, the software appears to be prioritizing organic links over sponsored links, but we all know how deadly ads can be once they get in the door. AI presents a particularly slippery slope here, as these chatbots are often advertised as personal assistants. I really don’t want to have a personal assistant barking ads at me 24 hours a day.
Incidentally, there doesn’t seem to be any way to hide the sponsored links above. Google Search lets users hide sponsored results after scrolling through them.
It certainly seems like our free ride is already coming to an end, because AI companies are really pushing that whole thing forward. X recently announced that it will include ads in query results.
There are also rumors that OpenAI is hiring people to turn ChatGPT into an advertising platform. That company’s recently launched AI social media slop factory Sora reportedly spends $15 million a day creating videos of Sam Altman eating pizza in space or some other location.