On Tuesday, Google announced that it will begin testing ads in artificial intelligence-generated search results in the United States. This initiative follows the recent wide release of the artificial intelligence Reviews feature, which was demonstrated at the company’s annual data I/O conference.
The advertisement will be displayed in the “sponsored” section of the artificial intelligence review, while its placement will be determined by the relevance and content of the user’s search query, as described in detail in a Google blog post.
Why is Google planning to display ads?
The move is part of Google’s strategy to expand its influence beyond traditional search advertising into the field of generating artificial intelligence. By introducing artificial intelligence into its search engine, the tech giant aims to increase advertising sales, which remain the most important source of income. Google’s advertising revenue increased by 13% to $61.7 billion in the first quarter ended March 31.
Google said it will continue to experiment with new advertising formats and improve them, seeking feedback from advertisers throughout the process.
In defense of artificial intelligence
As part of the relevant development, Google CEO Sundar Pichai took into account the concerns of independent news websites and publishers about the recently launched “Reviews using Artificial Intelligence” feature. In an interview with Neelai Patel of The Verge, Pichai answered questions raised after the announcement of the feature at the Google I/O 2024 developer Conference on May 14.
Pichai stressed that internal data indicates that the artificial intelligence review feature increases user engagement and the number of clicks, although he did not provide specific indicators. He reaffirmed Google’s commitment to meeting the needs of both users and content creators.
“Users are looking for high-quality content,” Pichai said. “The interesting aspect is that this is not a zero-sum game. People have reacted very positively to the AI reviews. This is one of the most favorable changes in search based on our metrics. People like the content provided, and they often go to more detailed information. When we include content and links in reviews using artificial intelligence, the number of clicks on them is higher than for content posted outside reviews using artificial intelligence. “
Addressing the notion that Google’s artificial intelligence features divert traffic from independent sites, Pichai argued that traffic declines are most often caused by aggregators. “Ironically, sometimes our adjustments actually increase traffic to smaller sites. Sites that often voice complaints are usually aggregators,” Pichai said.
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