Tag: AI Features

Unlocking the Power of Google’s New AI Safety Features in Ads Advisor

I’ve recently discovered that Google has introduced some exciting AI safety features in their Ads Advisor, which could really transform how we manage campaigns. This update promises to automate policy fixes, enhance security, and expedite certifications, all to help us run our campaigns more efficiently.

As someone who spends a lot of time tackling policy issues and managing certifications, this news is music to my ears. With advertising campaigns becoming increasingly complex, having AI handle these time-consuming tasks could significantly boost our productivity and performance.

What’s New. The latest update brings proactive troubleshooting, continuous security monitoring, and immediate certifications. Thanks to AI and Google’s Gemini capabilities, these features promise to be a real game-changer.

Zoom In:

Ads Advisor can now automatically flag and resolve policy violations before they even catch our attention. This proactive approach ensures we stay ahead of potential issues.

The new security dashboard is always on the lookout for risks such as suspicious domains or dormant users. It’s like having an ever-vigilant guard protecting our accounts 24/7.

Imagine getting certifications that used to take weeks, approved instantly with just a click. This means we can focus on strategy rather than paperwork.

How It Works. Ads Advisor proactively scans accounts and sites, offering up fixes and confirming resolutions without the need for manual intervention. On the security front, it continuously checks account health and even supports passkey use, reducing our dependency on passwords.

Why We Care. These features save us hours that were once spent fixing issues, upping our security game, and dealing with certifications. This proactive system reduces delays and risks, ultimately enhancing campaign speed and efficiency.

What to Watch. Google plans to roll out these features for English-speaking accounts over the coming months, with additional languages to follow.

Bottom Line. Google is transforming Ads Advisor into an active operator, making ad management safer, quicker, and far less labor-intensive. I’m eager to see how these changes will impact the way we work.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

April 21, 2026
Bing Enhances AI Query Links to Cited Pages for SEO Insight
Recently, I’ve noticed something exciting happening on Bing. Now, when I use Bing Webmaster Tools, I can click a query to view its cited pages or select a page to see its grounding queries. It feels like a new level of connectivity where multiple queries and pages are seamlessly linked together.

Microsoft has introduced query-to-page mapping within its AI Performance report on Bing Webmaster Tools. I find this feature incredibly helpful because it lets me directly connect AI-generated queries to cited URLs. This makes my SEO strategies more precise.

Why it matters to us. Before this update, Bing’s dashboard presented queries and pages separately, which limited our optimization efforts. Now, I can align specific AI-triggering queries with the exact pages they reference, focusing my updates on real AI-driven demand rather than guesswork.

Here’s the scoop. The Grounding Query–Page Mapping feature is a game-changer in the AI Performance dashboard:
- With a click on a grounding query, I can see which pages are cited.
- I can also click a page to find out which grounding queries are driving its citations.
- The mapping system is many-to-many, meaning one query can be linked to multiple pages and vice versa.
Catch up with Bing. Back in February, Microsoft launched the AI Performance report in Bing Webmaster Tools, marking its initial GEO-focused dashboard. This tool keeps track of where and how often my content gets cited in AI answers across platforms like Bing, Copilot, and more.
- It tracks the grounding queries, cited URLs, and visibility trends over time, providing an insightful view into citation visibility.
The buzz. According to Microsoft, this update came about due to “strong positive customer feedback and numerous requests,” and I can see why it’s so well-received.

The announcement. The unveiling of the query-to-page mapping feature was detailed in a Microsoft Advertising blog post: The AI Performance dashboard: Your view into where your brand appears across the AI web

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
March 24, 2026
Google AI Mode: Ad-Free Personal Intelligence Experience

Recently, I’ve learned that Google’s AI Mode will continue to be ad-free for those of us who connect apps to enable Personal Intelligence. This remains true even as Google expands ad testing in its U.S. rollout of more personalized features.
Although Google is experimenting with ads in AI Mode, those of us who have linked our apps for Personal Intelligence won’t see any ads — a feature confirmed by Google. This decision means our user experience remains focused and personal.
What’s happening.
Google has been testing ad placements within AI Mode in the U.S., and I’ve noticed how they describe these connections as “helpful” to users, which, according to Google, opens new opportunities to discover products and services.
There is, however, an exception — no ads for those of us who opt into app-connected, highly personalized experiences.
The details.
Google has recently expanded Personal Intelligence in AI Mode as a beta for anyone in the U.S., allowing Gemini to create truly tailored responses. By linking data across Google services like Search, Gmail, and YouTube, our experiences become exponentially more personalized.
By opting into Personal Intelligence, I’ve experienced that AI Mode remains ad-free.
Why we care.
With ads potentially moving into AI Mode, Google approaches carefully, especially where personal data is most sensitive. As it stands, Personal Intelligence experiences remain ad-free as Google finds the right balance.
What Google is saying.
A Google spokesperson shared:
“There are no ads for us who connect our apps with AI Mode. That isn’t changing at this moment.”
“Test results over the past months indicate that people find business connections helpful and uncover new opportunities for products and services.”
“Future ads will operate similarly for us connecting apps. They will maintain relevance related to queries, response context, and user interests.”
Bottom line.
In embracing Personal Intelligence, I see Google’s Gemini app positioning itself as a more personalized assistant. This groundwork sets the stage for future ad experiences built on richer, cross-platform user context.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

March 17, 2026
Revamp Your Ads: Google’s Smart Asset Layout for Demand Gen

I just discovered that Google Ads has given the Asset Optimization layout for Demand Gen a sleek makeover. The updated panel enables advertisers like me to easily streamline creative formatting and placement through a few toggles.

Why we care. If you’re managing a large volume of creative, this central panel makes life much easier. It reduces manual labor by allowing us to enable or disable automation features quickly.

What’s new. This layout refresh organizes three main automation features into a more user-friendly interface:

Auto-generated shorter videos let AI trim existing videos for broader placements.

Automatic video resizing ensures our videos fit multiple aspect ratios, optimizing for wider coverage.

Landing page image pulls pull images directly from our landing pages, creating added creative variations effortlessly.

How it works. The new panel displays simple toggles like Resized videos and Image assets, making it straightforward for us to activate or deactivate each feature without sifting through several submenus.

Bottom line. If you’re running Demand Gen campaigns like me, it’s time to dive into the Asset Optimization panel and review which automations are turned on. Don’t miss out on features like video resizing and landing page image pulls as they can expand your reach effortlessly.

And, ensure your landing pages are visually appealing; Google will draw directly from them. As more AI tools roll out, I’m shifting my workflow to focus on high-quality source assets and letting Google handle the optimization of formats and placements.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

March 12, 2026
Google Revolutionizes Video Ads with Automatic End Screens

Recently, I discovered that Google has started adding AI-generated conversion cards at the end of video ads. This automatic feature effectively overrides any existing end screens that we might have set up.

Google’s new auto end screens append an interactive, auto-generated card to eligible video ads. It’s designed to guide viewers toward converting, making our job as advertisers a bit simpler.

How it works: Right after the video concludes, an interactive screen pops up for a few seconds.

What’s impressive is how it automatically pulls in campaign details like app name, icon, price, and even a direct install link for app promotions.

The convenience doesn’t stop there; these end screens appear by default on any eligible ads, so we don’t have to spend time setting them up manually.

Why we care: This change means no more manual post-roll calls-to-action. However, it also alters the end of our video ads, replacing any custom YouTube end screens we might have built without warning. This can be a crucial point since the last thing viewers see can significantly impact their decision to convert.

With Google planning to roll this out more extensively, it’s crucial we understand these changes before they apply to more of our campaigns.

The catch: When we enable auto end screens, any manually added YouTube end screens will be overwritten, an important point to remember for maintaining control over our branding.

Current limitations: As of now, this feature is only available for in-stream ads in mobile app install campaigns. Broader rollout plans are in the works, but no definite timeline has been set.

What stays the same: Rest assured, auto end screens don’t affect our billing or view counts. They’re simply an added layer of engagement after our video has completed playing.

Next steps: It’s essential for those of us running mobile app campaigns to review our video ads. We should ensure auto end screens are working as expected and that our custom YouTube end screens aren’t being unexpectedly replaced.

As Google expands this feature, establishing an early review process will prepare us well for broader eligibility.

Dig deeper: For more details on auto end screens for video ads, click here.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

March 10, 2026
Get Ready for Google Marketing Live 2026: Key Details Revealed

I recently received thrilling news about Google Marketing Live 2026, which is officially scheduled for May 20. I’m eagerly anticipating the event where Google will unveil the latest enhancements in advertising, AI, and campaign automation.

In fact, I discovered the date through an email from the Accelerate with Google program. This communication not only confirmed the event date but also invited entries for the prestigious Google Ads Impact Awards.

You might be interested to know that the winners of these awards will be announced during the event, adding an extra layer of excitement.

Why it matters to me. As a user of Google Ads, I’m always on the edge of my seat for this annual event. It’s the moment Google reveals its groundbreaking innovations—new AI features, campaign types, and measurement tools that will hugely impact how I manage and optimize my campaigns.

Each year, the most pivotal updates in Google’s advertising strategies are first introduced at this event. It provides invaluable insights into the future of digital advertising.

The bigger picture. This year’s event aligns with Google I/O 2026 (May 19–20), which goes beyond just advertising. I/O covers the broader Google ecosystem including AI and Search technologies, which often guide the direction of advertising products.

What to watch for. I’m eagerly expecting announcements related to AI-driven advertising, automation, and enhanced performance metrics. It’s a must-watch for any marketer keen on staying ahead of Google’s ad strategy for the coming year.

First heard about it. The PPC News Feed by Hana Kobzová was where I initially got the scoop. It’s always exciting to find such vital information from reliable sources I trust.

Explore further. For those of you interested in what happened last year, don’t miss the Google Marketing Live 2025 recap.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

March 9, 2026
1/3 of Publishers Plan to Block Google’s AI Features
I recently discovered that Google is considering ways to allow websites to opt out of its AI-generated search features, such as AI Mode and AI Overviews. Naturally, I was curious about how the SEO community felt about it, so I conducted a poll on X to see if site owners would actually opt out.

The results were intriguing. Out of over 350 respondents, the majority mentioned they wouldn’t opt out. However, around one-third indicated they would prefer to block or opt out of these features. Here’s how the responses broke down:

Question: Would you block Google from using your content for AI Overviews and AI Mode?
- 33.2% – Yes, I’d block Google
- 41.9% – No, I wouldn’t block
- 24.9% – I am not sure yet.
Here’s the actual poll for reference:

Would you block Google from using your content for AI Overviews and AI Mode – Google may be giving us more controls – take my poll below. https://t.co/60M3Vt0YlN
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) January 28, 2026

But how do you opt out? Right now, that remains a mystery. Google has only mentioned it is exploring possibilities, without providing a clear mechanism. Frankly, the ease or difficulty of opting out could significantly influence decisions. If it’s straightforward, more sites might choose to opt out; if not, fewer will do so.

So why does this matter? We won’t truly know how many sites will opt out until Google officially offers a way to do so. Rest assured, once they do, there will be extensive reporting on the number of sites that decide to opt out.

To give you an idea, The Press Gazette recently reported that around 79% of nearly 100 top news websites in the UK and US are already blocking at least one AI training crawler, including OpenAI’s GPTBot, ClaudeBot, and others.

My advice is simple: Once Google makes this opt-out feature available, give it a test. See firsthand what the impact of opting in or out could be.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
January 29, 2026