Google has announced plans to introduce advertisements in AI Overviews for users in India later this year, according to a statement from the company. The announcement was made during the Google Marketing Live (GML) India event held on Thursday. Additionally, Google unveiled a range of new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven advertising tools tailored for brands and enterprises. The standout feature, termed “Generated for You,” is designed to scan a brand’s product catalogue and create image and video ads that align with the brand’s identity.
Google Plans to Show Indian Search Users Ads in AI Overviews
Reports emerged in October 2024 from several users in the US who noted the presence of ads within the AI Overviews section while searching for products and recommendations. Following that, Google officially rolled out these ads to both mobile and desktop platforms in the US, emphasizing that only relevant ads based on search queries would be displayed. To date, these advertisements have not been introduced in any other markets.
During the GML India event, Google communicated its intention to start showing ads in AI Overviews to Indian users in the coming months. No specific timeline was provided, but, similar to the US, these ads will appear on both mobile and desktop devices, limited exclusively to English-language advertisements.
The event revealed that globally, over 1.5 billion people are utilizing AI Overviews, with India witnessing a robust 10 percent increase in the query types that generate these AI-produced summaries. This level of engagement could be a significant factor in Google’s decision to extend ad placements within AI Overviews.
In the US, ads are incorporated in the AI Overviews beneath the summary, presented in a designated “Sponsored” section. These advertisements include a title, a brief description, and a clickable link for purchasing. The products featured are determined by the search terms entered by users.
In addition to these developments, Google is launching a new AI advertising tool in its Product Studio, set to roll out later this year. Named “Generated for You,” this tool autonomously identifies the most pertinent products from a brand’s catalogue and generates images and videos that reflect the brand’s identity. Advertisers will be able to utilize these assets across various Google platforms and monitor their performance. Furthermore, the AI tool will analyze market trends to propose marketing campaign ideas and seasonal promotions.
