Google Search Revenue Growth Slows to 12% in Q2 as YouTube Ads Slow to 9%
TLDR
Google Search revenue growth slowed to 12% in Q2 from 17%, YouTube ads slowed to 9%, and advertisers still cannot see AI Mode pricing because no paid click or CPC data is available.
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Google's search revenue growth slowed to 12% in Q2, down from 17%, while YouTube ads slowed to 9%. PPC Land notes that with no paid click or CPC data available, advertisers cannot see how AI Mode is priced.
How we got here
On July 15, Google said its AI Mode ads were displayed on close to 30% of all search queries. Later, on July 26, Google reported that its Q2 search ad revenue had jumped 17%, though investors remained uneasy about rising AI spending. On October 28, Google said search revenue growth had slowed for a second consecutive quarter, citing lower AI Mode monetization as one reason. Now, on October 29, Google Search revenue growth is reported to have slowed to 12% from 17%, YouTube ads slowed to 9%, and advertisers still cannot see AI Mode pricing because no paid click or CPC data is available.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Oct 28Google Search Revenue Growth Slows for a Second Straight Quarter
Google said Search revenue growth slowed for a second consecutive quarter, citing lower AI Mode monetization as one reason.
- Sep 11Google Ads data shows conversions shifting dramatically toward longer, more specific queries
An updated analysis of Google Ads data through August 2026 confirms that users are shifting decisively toward longer, more conversational queries, with 3-4-word searches now dominating impressions and conversions.
- Jul 26Google's Q2 Ad Revenue Surges 17%, But AI Investment Costs Spark Investor Concerns
Google's search ad revenue jumped 17% in Q2, but investors remain uneasy about the company's mounting AI expenditures and their impact on profitability.
- Jul 22Google Reports $81.6B Search Ad Revenue in Q2 2026, Up 14.5% Year-Over-Year
Google's Q2 2026 search ad revenue grew 14.5% to $81.6 billion, driven by AI Overviews and AI Mode adoption.