Google has started showing ads in third-party AI chatbots, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The ads fall within Google AdSense, the company’s monetisation platform for publishers. Historically, AdSense ads have shown up in search results and on web pages. Now, they will also be shown while users chat with third-party AI assistants.
Google tested this form of advertisement in partnership with AI startups iAsk and Liner last year. The company is now allowing AdSense to be utilised by more chatbot developers.
OpenAI recently made upgrades to its chatbot, ChatGPT. Earlier this week, OpenAI announced that users will be able to shop through its AI chatbot, and will be shown personalised products. OpenAI’s shopping tool also now provides product reviews, pricing details and images.
ChatGPT is a fierce competitor against Google Search and Google’s Gemini AI system.
Google recently faced an antitrust lawsuit from the Department for Justice (DOJ) – it was ruled the giant had unlawfully monopolised adtech markets.
Google recently updated AI Mode, their AI search engine to better assist users with more complex requests. The engine can now provide images of product recommendations or reviews for travel destinations.
The expansion of AdSense ads could help Google boost their usage, particularly at a time when user search behaviour is changing – increasingly turning away from traditional search to AI chatbots.
Google Gemini is yet to integrate ads into its systems. Many of its basic services are free to use.
“AdSense for Search is available for websites that want to show relevant ads in their conversational AI experiences,” said a Google spokesperson.
