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Tag: Advertising

AI Revolutionizes Digital Advertising by 2026: What You Need to Know

As I look ahead to 2026, Google’s innovative strides in AI are truly reshaping digital advertising and commerce. Thanks to the leadership of Vidhya Srinivasan, VP/GM of Ads & Commerce, AI is significantly enhancing the shopping and advertising landscape, making it more efficient and personalized for everyone involved.

Key Trends:

Creators to commerce: In my experience, YouTube is increasingly becoming a go-to platform for discovery, largely because creators act as influential tastemakers. AI plays a pivotal role in pairing the right creators with brands, transforming influence into tangible business outcomes.

Search ads evolve: With conversational and visual searches gaining popularity, AI Mode is revolutionizing ads to seamlessly integrate into the user’s discovery process. Innovative formats like sponsored retail listings and Direct Offers are crafted to assist users in their shopping journey while offering brands meaningful conversion opportunities.

Agentic commerce arrives: Through Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), AI-driven shopping experiences are becoming standardized. This advancement allows users to browse, purchase, and finalize transactions effortlessly. Early adopters like Etsy and Wayfair have already started using this system, with giants like Shopify, Target, and Walmart soon joining the bandwagon.

AI-powered creative and performance: I’m thrilled to see how tools powered by Gemini 3 are enhancing creative production and campaign optimization. Generative platforms like Nano Banana and Veo 3 help advertisers produce high-quality assets swiftly, while AI Max boosts reach and performance.

Trust as a foundation: It’s reassuring to know that each advancement prioritizes privacy and security. Strong data management practices, alongside transparent ad personalization, are founded on Google’s legacy of trust.

Why we care: 2026 is poised to be a groundbreaking year, with AI enhancing every facet of the consumer journey. With cutting-edge tools like Gemini 3, Nano Banana, Veo 3, and AI Mode, brands like mine can efficiently create superior content, target the perfect audience, and seamlessly convert interest into purchases during search and discovery.

The advent of agentic commerce through UCP presents a novel approach, connecting advertisers to consumers at critical purchasing moments, all while preserving trust and transparency.

The big picture: The year 2026 heralds an expansive era for digital commerce and advertising, where the fusion of speed, personalization, and AI-driven insights eliminates barriers, facilitating smoother transitions from discovery to purchase while keeping trust paramount.

Dig Deeper: Discover what’s next in digital advertising and commerce by 2026

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

February 11, 2026
Discover How Ads Enhance Your ChatGPT Experience
On the OpenAI podcast, I recently listened to Andrew Maine as he spoke with OpenAI executive Assad Awan. During their conversation, Awan shared insights into how ads are being introduced to ChatGPT, who will see them, and the measures in place to protect user trust.
Who will see ads:
Ads will be visible to users on the Free and Go tiers. As for Plus, Pro, and Enterprise subscribers, they will not encounter ads in their interactions. Additionally, Enterprise workspaces are staying completely free from advertisements.
The guardrails: Awan highlighted that OpenAI is committed to structuring ads with strict trust principles in mind.
- Separation: Ads are distinctly separate both visually and technically from the model answers.
- Privacy: Conversations are not shared with advertisers, ensuring privacy is upheld.
- Sensitive topics: Discussions on health, politics, and other sensitive subjects will never be interrupted by ads.
- Controls: Users have the ability to adjust ad personalization settings or even upgrade to remove ads entirely.
Awan also mentioned that the AI model itself is not aware of when ads are present and will only reference them if directly queried by a user.
Zoom in. OpenAI emphasizes prioritizing user trust over other factors such as user value, advertiser value, and revenue. This framework is designed to prevent ads from influencing the model’s responses.
For small businesses. Awan envisions a future where AI simplifies advertising for small businesses. By understanding plain language goals, AI can help run campaigns without the complexity of traditional dashboards.
Why we care. ChatGPT ads promise a unique, high-intent channel where businesses can connect with users during their active conversations and decision-making processes. By focusing on relevance and AI-driven matching, the platform can lower the entry barrier for small to midsize advertisers while boosting performance for larger brands.
Should OpenAI succeed in cultivating a trusted ad environment, it could reshape how advertisers perceive discovery and customer engagement within AI-driven platforms.
What’s next. The initial ad tests will remain conservative, concentrating on utility and relevance before volume as OpenAI hones ad formats and placements.
The big picture. Through advertising, OpenAI aims to expand ChatGPT access while adhering to a trust-first design—a balance they assert is key to their long-term strategy.
Dig deeper. Watch the full interview with Assad Awan

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
February 11, 2026
Harnessing First-Party Data for AI-Enhanced Ad Success

I recently discovered how crucial first-party data has become in the evolving landscape of AI-powered advertising. It’s fascinating to see how it shapes the optimization and measurement of automated ad campaigns.

During a chat with Search Engine Land, I learned from Julie Warneke, CEO of Found Search Marketing, about the profound impact first-party data has on profitable advertising, regardless of potential changes to Google’s third-party cookie policies.

Embracing first-party data means tapping into customer information that I own, typically stored in a CRM, like lead details, purchase history, revenue, and customer value collected from various touchpoints.

This type of data is distinct from platform-owned or browser-based data, over which I have limited control.

Digital advertising has evolved over the years. The shift from focusing on impressions and clicks to outcomes emphasizes profitable conversions, according to Warneke. Advertisers who provide AI systems with quality customer data gain a significant edge.

Although rising cost-per-clicks (CPCs) are inevitable in paid media, first-party data enhances conversion quality, revenue, and return on ad spend, making higher costs justifiable with better results.

By leveraging first-party data tied to revenue and customer value, AI bidding systems can target users resembling high-value customers, even beyond usual demographic or geographic signals, leading to better conversions.

Among campaign types, Performance Max (PMax) thrives with first-party data activation. It performs best when I shift from manual optimizations to feeding it accurate data, allowing the system to learn, as Warneke highlighted.

Even small and mid-sized businesses can leverage first-party data, as seen in Warneke’s examples of success with small customer lists. The challenge lies in setting up proper infrastructure for tracking, consent management, and data flow.

Common mistakes include weak data capture, where brands rely on browser-side tracking that falters on platforms like iOS, and broken feedback loops from sporadic CRM data uploads. Continuous data streams are crucial.

Warneke advises taking a step back to audit how data is captured, stored, and relayed to platforms. Incremental improvements can pave the way for significant long-term gains, even starting with a small portion of a budget as a test.

Ultimately, AI optimization reflects the quality of signals received. By refining first-party data, I can influence outcomes favorably, avoiding inefficiency risks.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

February 5, 2026
AI Chat Ads: Why Claude Stands Firm and ChatGPT Changes

I recently learned that Anthropic has made a firm decision regarding the inclusion of ads in AI chatbots. They’ve announced that Claude will remain ad-free, even as other AI platforms start experimenting with sponsored messages and branded placements during chats.
Anthropic argues that placing ads in AI chats would undermine user trust, distort incentives, and conflict with how people use assistants like Claude—for work, problem-solving, and sensitive topics. In their latest blog post, they clearly lay out their stance.
Why this matters to us. Anthropic’s decision effectively removes Claude and its 30 million users from the potential AI advertising market. So, brands shouldn’t count on having sponsored links, conversations, or responses inside Claude. Meanwhile, ChatGPT opens up a new frontier for brands to potentially connect with an estimated 800 million weekly users.
Here’s the situation. According to Anthropic, AI conversations are quite unlike search results or social feeds where users might expect a combination of organic and paid content. They emphasize that many interactions with Claude involve personal inquiries, complex technical tasks, or high-stakes decisions, where inserting ads would seem intrusive and could subtly sway responses beyond user awareness.
Incentives matter. This is more than a product preference; it’s a strategic business model decision for Anthropic:
An ad-free assistant can concentrate fully on user benefits—even if that means a brief interaction or no follow-up. On the flip side, an ad-supported model might create pressure to identify monetizable moments or keep users engaged longer than necessary, potentially making users question whether suggestions are genuinely helpful or commercially driven.
Anthropic embraces commerce without ads. While Claude will assist users in researching, comparing, and purchasing products upon request, the commerce is user-initiated, not advertiser-driven. Likewise, third-party integrations with platforms like Figma or Asana will be user-directed and free from sponsor influence.
Super Bowl declaration. Anthropic took their message to a wider audience with a bold Super Bowl ad campaign. They critiqued intrusive AI advertising by placing mock product pitches into personal conversations. The ad concluded robustly: “Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude.”
This campaign is likely a direct response to OpenAI’s announcement about introducing ads in ChatGPT.
Check out the ad:
Claude’s recent blog post explains further. Feel free to check it out here: Claude is a space to think

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

February 4, 2026
Unleashing Google Ads API v23: Discover Perf Max by Channel
Have you ever wondered where your Performance Max ads truly run? With the latest Google Ads API v23 update, we finally have the answer!

An exciting change has arrived with the v23 Ads API launch. Now, Performance Max campaign results can be broken down by channel, including Search, YouTube, Display, Discover, Gmail, Maps, and Search Partners. Previously, all your performance data was lumped together, obscuring critical insights.

Here’s the inside scoop. In earlier API versions, I always received a MIXED value for the ad_network_type segment in my Performance Max campaigns. But with v23, these results have transformed into distinct channel enums. It’s a major step forward for those of us who crave precision in reporting and optimization.

Why this matters to us. This update isn’t just about new features — it reshapes how we comprehend Performance Max. With channel-specific reporting now on the table, marketers gain much-needed clarity on where these ads are displayed.

How we can leverage this. Now, we can access channel-level data at the campaign, asset group, and even individual asset levels. This means we can observe how each creative piece performs across Google’s array of platforms. Coupled with v22 segments like ad_using_video and ad_using_product_data, the possibilities for optimizing video performance on YouTube or Shopping ads on Search are endless.

Attention, developers. Upgrading to v23 unveils a level of reporting detail that was previously unreachable. If your system relied on the old MIXED values, it’s time to gear up for the new channel enums.

Keep an eye out for:
- Channel data is accessible only for dates beginning June 1, 2025.
- Remember, asset group–level channel reporting remains exclusively within the API and is not visible in the Google Ads UI.
The takeaway. The newest Google Ads API rollout quietly transforms what was once a black-box campaign category into an analyzable channel-specific type. Finally, advertisers like you and me can dive into the metrics we’ve long sought.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
February 2, 2026
OpenAI Prepares for ChatGPT Ads: What You Need to Know

I’ve noticed something intriguing in the responses from ChatGPT lately. If you peek into the page source, there are references to ads, even though no actual ads appear on the screen. It reads: “InReply to user query using the following additional context of ads shown to the user.” This discovery got me thinking about what’s brewing behind the scenes.

Digital marketer Glenn Gabe was the first to draw attention to this on X, highlighting the presence of ad-related phrases within ChatGPT’s source code. Other users have confirmed similar findings when engaging with commercial queries like auto insurance. This hints that there’s more at play than meets the eye.

This development could mark a significant shift, transitioning ChatGPT ads from a concept to reality, opening up a brand new high-intent advertising channel. With code logic for ads in place, it appears that OpenAI is already experimenting with targeting and eligibility to benefit early advertisers.

Given the limited ad space, and assuming ads will be seamlessly integrated into conversational responses instead of traditional banners, we might be on the brink of accessing premium advertising real estate that competes directly with organic content.

While the ads are currently invisible, their underlying logic is evidently active. This suggests OpenAI might already be testing parameters like ad eligibility, suppression rules for paid tiers, or internal mechanisms, all in preparation for a larger rollout.

OpenAI acknowledged earlier this year that ads would be introduced to ChatGPT for select users. These ads are expected to be sold on an impression basis, hinting at potentially high costs for advertisers. The groundwork is clearly set, even if ads haven’t gone live yet.

For those keen on following this development, I recommend checking out Glenn Gabe’s tweet that showcases evidence suggesting the imminent arrival of ChatGPT ads.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

February 2, 2026
Boost Your Google Ads in 2026 with v23 API Insights

As I delve into Google Ads API v23, I’m excited to share this update marks the beginning of a faster-paced release cycle in 2026. With this update, I’m now able to access improved Performance Max reporting, sophisticated AI-driven audience tools, and more detailed campaign controls.

What’s new:

Performance Max Transparency: I’ve discovered that PMax campaigns now offer ad network type breakdowns, making it easier for me to analyze performance.

More Detailed Invoices: Through InvoiceService, I can retrieve campaign-specific costs, regulatory fees, and adjustments, allowing for more precise financial tracking.

More Precise Scheduling: It’s a game-changer for me to now schedule campaigns using precise start and end date-times instead of limiting to date-only fields.

Local Data Access: I’m now able to access store location details via PerStoreView, which matches the data in the Stores report accurately.

New Audience Dimension: With life-event-based audience building through LIFE_EVENT_USER_INTEREST, my Insights tools are more powerful than ever.

Smarter Demand Gen Planning: The conversion rate forecasts I rely on now vary by surfaces such as Gmail and Shorts, enhancing my strategy planning.

Generative AI Audiences: I can efficiently translate free-text audience descriptions into structured attributes, simplifying audience target creation.

Expanded Shopping Metrics: The inclusion of new competitive and conversion metrics by conversion date helps me improve my shopping ads performance.

Why I care: A quicker update cycle means I can leverage new features faster. With Google’s shift towards automation and AI-driven insights, staying on top of these updates helps me optimize campaigns effectively.

Between the lines: These updates require my team to upgrade client libraries and code, so scheduling development time is crucial to benefit fully from v23.

Bottom line: The Google Ads API v23 is setting the stage for 2026. I’m ready to embrace these improvements that introduce faster releases coupled with enhanced AI insights, refined reporting, and better campaign control for large-scale advertisers.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 29, 2026
Explore ChatGPT’s Costly Ads: Visibility at a Premium

I’ve noticed that OpenAI is introducing premium-priced ads on ChatGPT, but here’s something interesting: the data provided to advertisers is significantly limited compared to what we’re used to.

What’s happening. Reports indicate that OpenAI is offering ChatGPT ads at around $60 per 1,000 impressions. That’s about three times the rate of standard Meta advertisements! Yet, even with this higher cost, advertisers only receive basic metrics like total impressions or clicks, without insight into actions like purchases.

Why we care. ChatGPT is becoming a fresh, highly engaging ad space, but it’s not without its challenges. The hefty CPMs and limited insights mean that early advertising efforts will lean more toward enhancing brand presence and gathering learnings than achieving performance-driven efficiency.

For marketers who are open to trying new avenues, this presents a unique chance to gain insights into how ads function within AI-driven conversations before the format becomes more widespread or measurable.

The tradeoff. OpenAI is contemplating expanding its measurement capabilities in the future, yet it remains committed to user privacy. It has pledged not to sell user data or invade the confidentiality of conversations, which limits traditional targeting and attribution possibilities that platforms like Google and Meta offer.

Who will see ads. Initially, these ads will be available to those using ChatGPT’s free and lower-cost Go tiers, but won’t be shown to users under 18 or in conversations concerning sensitive topics like mental health or politics.

Between the lines. OpenAI is branding ChatGPT ads as a top-tier, trustworthy product, banking on the idea that context, focus, and brand safety can validate the higher pricing, despite the lack of detailed performance data.

Bottom line. Brands eager for prominent visibility in a cutting-edge AI-driven environment may find ChatGPT ads appealing, but those focused on performance metrics might hesitate due to the absence of detailed measurement.

Dig deeper. OpenAI Seeks Premium Prices in Early Ads Push (Subscription needed)

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 26, 2026
Frustration Grows: Google Ads Bug Hinders Note Accessibility

I’ve recently experienced a glitch in Google Ads that’s been quite the headache. It has unexpectedly removed the option for adding notes in some accounts, making change tracking and documentation far more challenging. I know how important these notes are for keeping track of optimizations and performance shifts.

This issue was initially brought to my attention by Odi Caspi, a fellow paid search consultant. Over the past couple of weeks, the problem has surfaced sporadically, causing quite a bit of disruption. Let me share what advertisers are meant to see in their dashboard:

I find it incredibly essential to understand why we care about this issue. Account notes are an invaluable tool for agencies and in-house teams to trace changes over time. When we lose the ease of access to these notes, troubleshooting performance fluctuations becomes tougher, and our collective memory weakens.

In accounts affected by this bug, the “Add note” option simply vanishes from the popup where I usually annotate changes. It’s an intermittent issue, with the functionality sometimes working perfectly and disappearing at other times.

As for workarounds, Caspi mentions that clicking on an existing note could reveal the option to add a new one. However, this method works only if there’s already a note available within the current date range we’re examining.

Another workaround I came across, suggested by Paid Media Specialist Dids Reeve, involves opening the Notes panel from the “More” menu. It seems this option still allows for adding notes in some cases.

Looking forward, it’s frustrating not knowing when Google might officially recognize or address this bug. Until it’s resolved, I’ll need to be more vigilant about documenting significant changes using alternate methods.

The first reported instance of this glitch came from Caspi himself, who shared insights from his campaign reports on LinkedIn.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 23, 2026
Google Ads Glitch Halts Performance Max Edits: What to Do

A recent bug in Google Ads is causing frustration among advertisers, as it has started blocking any attempts to edit Performance Max (PMax) asset groups. I’ve personally encountered error messages when trying to update asset groups, making it impossible to save any changes directly in the platform.

Why This Matters to Us. As an advertiser, the freshness and adaptability of our assets are crucial for campaign success. Without the ability to update asset groups, there’s a risk of my campaigns running with outdated content, potentially harming their performance and efficiency.

What I’m Experiencing. Like others, I’ve faced an error message stating, “An error occurred. Please try again later. Value is required,” each time I’ve tried editing any asset group details. This error shows up in the Google Ads UI, stopping me from saving any changes even if all required fields appear to be filled.

Google’s Response. Google acknowledges this issue and is looking into it. However, they haven’t provided a timeline for a fix or any further guidance through their official channels yet.

Temporary Workaround. For now, I’ve found that using the Google Ads Editor allows me to make necessary changes and upload them directly. While this method works, it introduces additional steps that disrupt my usual workflow of managing PMAX via the web interface.

Next Steps for Advertisers. If you’re running Performance Max campaigns like I am, it’s essential to revisit recent changes to ensure they’ve been saved correctly. In the meantime, directing any necessary updates through Ads Editor may be a wise choice until Google resolves the issue.

Looking Ahead. Until Google addresses this glitch, a new level of uncertainty might accompany managing Performance Max campaigns. It’s important for us to double-check our versions and explore alternative workflows.

First to Report. PPC professional Chelsea Harding initially flagged this issue and shared her experience about the error message on LinkedIn.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 23, 2026

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