Google Appears to Test Sponsored Products Alongside Organic Results in AI Mode
TLDR
Google appears to be testing sponsored products mixed into organic product results in AI Mode, though it is unclear whether all product listings are labeled as ads.
What this means for your site
- Status
- Test
- Platform
- Google Search
- Affects
- AI Mode product results, Sponsored product listings
- Who
- Not specified in the source
- Effective
- Not specified in the source
- Action needed
- Not specified in the source
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
SERoundtable reports that Google seems to be testing ads blended into the organic product results in AI Mode. A line above the products reads "Sponsored" and "All products," but the outlet says it cannot tell from the screenshots whether the "All products" listings are sponsored as well.
How we got here
- Oct 13Google now shows pharmaceutical ads in AI Mode and AI Overviews
Google has expanded pharmaceutical ads to appear in AI Mode and AI Overviews, according to a company spokesperson.
- Sep 30Google Testing Sponsored Products Grid That Mimics Organic Shopping Results
Google is testing a new grid layout for sponsored product ads that mirrors the appearance of organic product listings rather than the traditional carousel format.
- Sep 15Google is testing text-based link ads in AI Mode, styled as regular responses but marked sponsored
Google is testing a new text-link ad format in AI Mode that mimics regular response text and links but carries a "Sponsored" label.
- Aug 31Google Is Now Showing Shopping Carousel Ads Inline Within AI Mode
Google is expanding ad placements in AI Mode by showing shopping carousel ads inline and at the bottom of results.