Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn/iStock via Getty Images
Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) unit Google will begin testing search and shopping ads in its AI-generated answers in the U.S.
The move comes just days after the U.S. tech giant rolled out the AI Overviews feature at its annual I/O conference. AI Overviews creates AI-generated summaries in response to Google Search queries.
“They will have the opportunity to appear within the AI Overview in a section clearly labeled as “sponsored” when they’re relevant to both the query and the information in the AI Overview,” said Vidhya Srinivasan, vice president/general manager, Ads, in a blog post on Wednesday.
Srinivasan added that in early testing, they heard that people find the ads appearing above and below the AI-generated overview helpful.
Google noted that no action is needed from advertisers. Ads from existing Search, Performance Max, and Standard Shopping campaigns have the opportunity to appear within the AI Overview.
Srinivasan added that the company will continue to test and learn new formats, and get feedback from the advertisers and industry.
At Google I/O, the company had announced that AI Overviews in Search is rolling out to everyone in the U.S., and would come to more countries soon.
With generative AI in Performance Max, soon, advertisers would be able to share their font and color guidelines in the tool, and provide helpful image reference points to generate new asset variations. The company is also introducing new image editing capabilities so advertisers can try adding new objects and extending backgrounds, among other things.
As advertisers explore creative ideas, Google AI will generate more recommendations showing products in different contexts and scenarios, the company added.
In addition, advertisers will soon be able to enhance their Shopping ads with immersive visuals, including Virtual Try-On and generated 3D ads. Google noted that it is also introducing a feature which lets shoppers know more about an ad by seeing product videos, summaries and similar products by the advertiser.
Google is also testing a new ad feature in Search to help guide people in purchase decisions. Google cited an example that if anyone searches for “short term storage,” clicking an ad for a storage facility, the AI can help them. If the user shares details, like photos of furniture and their budget, Google AI could then recommend storage unit sizing and packing materials with a link to buy them on the website.