On the morning of December 9th, several advertising agencies told Adweek that Google has informed its clients internally that advertisements will be launched within the Gemini AI chatbot in 2026, including brand cards and clickable links in conversation responses, existing parallel with the "AI Mode search ads" introduced in March this year.
Buyer's Perspective: Timeline, Pricing, and Prototypes Are Not Finalized
At least two large agencies have confirmed receiving the 2026 campaign plan, but Google has not shown an ad prototype or provided a CPM or CPC pricing model.
Function Positioning: When users ask questions within Gemini, the AI response will include a "sponsored card" or "related product link" at the end, which can lead directly to the advertisement homepage, achieving "conversation as traffic."
Official Denial: Gemini Has No Ads, Nor Any New Plans
Google's Global Advertising Vice President Dan Taylor responded on X platform, stating that the report was "based on inaccurate sources," emphasizing that "the Gemini app currently has no ads, nor any plans to change this situation."
This "buyer confirmation → official denial" situation highlights Google's cautious attitude towards AI monetization and avoids sending signals prematurely during the period of antitrust scrutiny.
Market Impact: AI Conversations as a New Ad Space?
If the information is true, Gemini will become the third "high engagement" ad inventory for Google, following Bing Chat and YouTube, with expected CPM higher than traditional search ads.
Advertisers view it as "the next generation of keywords": users express needs in natural language, and brands can precisely insert solutions, possibly resulting in higher conversion rates than keyword ads.
Competitors Accelerate Layout: Meta has already tested commercial messages on WhatsApp, and Microsoft Copilot also plans to open brand card APIs in Q2 2025.
Next Steps to Watch
Google usually conducts multiple "buyer briefings" before an official announcement. The 2026 timeline aligns with the previous search ad migration pace. AIbase will continue to track whether Google discloses Gemini ad SKUs in future quarterly investor documents and the progress of the first technical Beta release.
