Google Says No Gemini Ads in 2026
- ChatGPT Ad Strategy
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Google has publicly denied that it has plans to add ads inside the Gemini app right now, even after a report claimed advertisers were briefed on a 2026 rollout.
Meanwhile, OpenAI says it plans to test ads in ChatGPT for logged-in adults in the U.S. on Free and Go tiers.
The practical takeaway for small businesses is simple: AI is compressing discovery, and paid placements will likely show up as “sponsored + conversation”, not just links.
Table of contents
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Driving the news
Adweek reported that Google reps told some advertising clients that ad placements in Gemini were being targeted for a 2026 rollout, but with no prototypes, formats, or pricing shared.
Google’s ads leadership pushed back publicly. Search Engine Land reported Dan Taylor disputed the story and said there are no ads in the Gemini app and no current plans to change that.
What Google actually denied
Google’s denial is narrow but important.
Google’s statement is about the Gemini app
It is a claim about the assistant product, not about Google Search, not about AI summaries, and not about every AI surface Google owns.
This leaves “AI search ads” untouched
Google has been expanding ads where intent is explicit, especially in search experiences that resemble traditional queries. Google’s AI products are not one thing. They are a bundle.
What Adweek reported
Adweek’s reporting matters because it describes advertiser conversations, even if exploratory.
Buyers described discussions as early.
They reported no technical detail.
They reported no pricing.
They framed it as separate from ads in Google’s AI search experience.
If you run an agency, this is the pattern to watch: sales conversations start before product clarity.
Why Google says assistants differ from search
Search Engine Journal summarized comments from Demis Hassabis at Davos that center on one word: trust. He framed assistants as “technology that works for you,” and questioned how ads fit without breaking the relationship.
He also drew a hard line between:
Assistant behavior (personal, ongoing, multi-step).
Search intent (explicit, query-driven).
That distinction is the whole business model debate.
Where ads already exist in Google’s AI ecosystem
Even if Gemini stays ad-free, ads are already being tested and expanded in AI-shaped search.
AI Overviews and AI-style search surfaces
Google began rolling out ads in AI Overviews and has continued expanding them. Google has also claimed AI Overviews monetize at similar rates to traditional results, though the details of measurement matter.
Fewer searches per user means fewer discovery shots
Search Engine Land reported U.S. desktop searches per user fell nearly 20% YoY, based on Datos/SparkToro clickstream data. That is not “Google is dead.” It is “discovery is tightening.”
What OpenAI said about ChatGPT ads
OpenAI’s current position is unusually explicit.
Ads will be separate and clearly labeled.
Ads will not influence answers.
Conversations are kept private from advertisers.
Users will have controls, including turning off personalization.
OpenAI also states it is not launching ads yet, but plans to start testing in coming weeks for logged-in adults in the U.S. on Free and Go tiers. {Link: OpenAI ads principles
Why we care (for small businesses)
If you are under $10M, here is the blunt version.
AI reduces casual discovery.
AI increases side-by-side comparison.
Weak positioning becomes expensive faster.
If searches per person drop and AI answers satisfy intent sooner, your “top of funnel” gets thinner. That forces harder competition in fewer remaining attention slots.
“Nobody in their right mind would do it.” — Jensen Huang, on starting a company.
You do not get stability. You earn adaptation. AI ad surfaces will not reward “good enough” funnels. They will punish them quietly.
Practical next steps
If you want your business to survive AI-driven ad interfaces, do these three things.
Tighten your offer language. Make it scannable. Make it provable.
Build a “source page” for your category. FAQs, comparisons, and proof.
Add conversion friction removal. Fewer steps. Faster scheduling. Clear price anchors.
FAQs
Are there ads in the Gemini app right now?
Google’s public position is no, and it says there are no current plans to change that. {Link: Search Engine Land coverage https://searchengineland.com/google-corrects-report-claiming-ads-are-coming-to-gemini-in-2026-465856}
Did Google tell advertisers that Gemini ads are coming in 2026?
Adweek reported advertisers were told Gemini ad placements were targeted for 2026, but details were limited and exploratory. {Link: Adweek report https://www.adweek.com/media/google-gemini-ads-2026/}
Are ChatGPT ads live today?
OpenAI says ads are not live yet, but it plans to begin testing in coming weeks in the U.S. for Free and Go tiers. {Link: OpenAI ads principles https://openai.com/index/our-approach-to-advertising-and-expanding-access/}
If AI reduces searches, do Google Ads still matter?
Yes, but the game changes. Fewer searches per user can mean fewer chances to show up. That makes relevance, offer clarity, and landing page quality even more important.
Sources and suggested links
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