Google’s popular AI-based summaries that are added to its search queries, AI Overviews, will soon get ads.
The search giant confirmed how AI summaries will now feature sponsored links to similar pages which users can benefit from. It’s interesting how the news comes when it’s busy rolling out an AI-based search result pages across the US this week.
Seeing how relevant AI has become across Google in such a short period is certainly interesting and this new addition of ads is the perfect example. The goal is to ensure users stop switching to other alternatives like ChatGPT and Perplexity. These are both used to answer common queries today, thanks to the help of generative AI.
We’ve seen Perplexity boast about expanding its user base to more than 85M in terms of web visitors. It might be small when you look at tech giant Google but it’s still worth a notable mention and quite impressive for the company’s milestone. Remember, it was only launched two years back.
Since the launch arose in the spring of this year, the feature of AI Overviews has received a lot of skepticism and debate. The reason why, in case you forgot, is the bizarre statements and weird advice given as solutions to users’ questions. Imagine Google telling users to add glue to pizza to make those toppings stick.
Another debate has recently arisen when a report thanks to SE Ranking showed that Google’s AI Overviews is citing online pages that are far from reliable and lack evidence-based content. This entails all sorts of old studies and product listings that are paid.
Therefore, the main issue here is linked to AI Overviews having a hard time differentiating right from wrong. They don’t know if the response they are giving out is real or fake. Over the past couple of months, Google says it’s been working long and hard to try and better it. Some changes included limited responses in terms of current trends and those related to health. Still, it admits the feature is far from perfect.
The VP of user experience at the company says they are doing everything to make it useful for all. Their goal is to get on board with the right content so all can benefit. Now keeping those facts aside, the company still boasts about how the feature is doing so well.
It’s doing wonders in terms of search engagement and its main user base lies in the 18 to 24 age bracket. This has been a key point for the country. Therefore, it makes sense now why the tech giant is wishing to make money out of the feature with ads.
American mobile phone users will now witness ads across AI Overviews for any relevant questions like ridding stains from your favorite white shirt.
All posts with ads will entail a sponsored label that pops up alongside other non-sponsored material through AI summaries. This will be drawn through advertisers’ presence on Google Shopping and search-related initiatives.
Some people do feel it’s a great idea as the links allow them to connect quickly with relevant brands, getting them the products and services they need. Now with the good is the bad and that arises in complaints of ads clutting the AI Overview summary. You might just see more sponsored material and hidden unsponsored which can be upsetting.
Remember, the announcement of ads by Google comes after it carried out tests of the new format for months. It’s now getting out to those places where AI Overviews were live such as Mexico, Brazil, India, the UK, the US, and Japan.
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