A report from AdWeek claimed Google privately told clients it plans to introduce ads in its Gemini AI chatbot in 2026 — but Google’s top ads executive is publicly denying it.

Driving the news. AdWeek reported that Google reps, in recent calls with major advertisers, suggested that Gemini would get ad placements in 2026, separate from the company’s existing ads in AI Mode, the AI-powered search experience launched in March.

• Buyers said no prototypes, formats, or pricing were shown.
• The conversations were described as exploratory and lacked technical detail.

Google says that’s wrong. Dan Taylor, Google’s VP of Global Ads, disputed the report directly on X, writing:

• “This story is based on uninformed, anonymous sources who are making inaccurate claims. There are no ads in the Gemini app and there are no current plans to change that.”

Why we care. Advertisers are watching closely for monetization inside AI assistants, seen as the next major ad frontier. Conflicting signals about ads in Gemini hint at where Google may be headed with AI monetization, even if the company publicly denies immediate plans. Any move to bring paid placements into a high-engagement chatbot could reshape budgets, shift user behavior, and introduce an entirely new ad surface separate from search.

Between the lines. The tension highlights a broader industry debate: whether AI chatbots should remain utility tools or evolve into new ad surfaces. Even speculation about ads inside Gemini is enough to spark planning discussions among agencies.

What’s next. For now, Google insists Gemini remains ad-free. But with rivals exploring AI monetization and advertiser demand growing, the question isn’t going away — even if the timeline is.

Dig Deeper. Report from AdWeek (registered account needed).

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About the Author

Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.

In 2008, Anu started her career delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side. Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event - PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPC Live The Podcast.

She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US, UK, Munich, Berlin), Friends of Search (Amsterdam, NL), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna, IT) and more.