Where are ads in Google AI Mode available?

The Citead team, updated

In short. Google documents AI Mode ads as an English-language US test, with placements below and integrated into responses.

Definition: Google AI Mode ads are paid placements below or integrated into responses in Google's conversational search experience. In the official rollout documentation reviewed on 17 October 2026, the stated availability is an English-language test in the United States.

Key facts

What does the geographic rollout establish?

Google's Marketing Live summary places the English-in-the-US availability statement specifically under its AI Mode ads heading. Its separate AI Overviews section describes an expansion to selected countries and to desktop and mobile. An AI Overview is an AI-powered response within Google Search results; AI Mode supports a conversational search with follow-up questions.

The distinction matters when checking a market. Google's AI Overviews advertising help page lists countries including Australia, Canada and India for ads within AI Overviews on mobile and desktop. That list describes the AI Overviews placement. For AI Mode, the reviewed announcements do not provide a wider country list or a device-by-device availability table.

Where can the ads appear?

Google's May 2025 announcement describes ads below the AI Mode response and ads integrated into it. Its example concerns someone researching how to build a small-business website with limited resources: a website-builder ad can provide a next step alongside that research.

The May 2026 announcement, dated 20 May 2026, adds tests of Conversational Discovery ads and Highlighted Answers. The former uses Gemini to tailor advertising creative to a specific search. The latter makes relevant ads eligible to appear within a list of recommendations in an AI Mode response. Google says these formats carry a Sponsored label.

The same announcement continues to describe the new formats as tests. Its discussion of new AI-powered Shopping ads and Business Agent for Leads appears in a separate section about Search, so those announcements require their own placement checks.

Which campaigns and offers are involved?

Google's original eligibility statement names Performance Max, Shopping, and Search campaigns with broad match, including AI Max for Search, as eligible for AI Mode and AI Overviews placements.

For offers, Google's Direct Offers pilot uses campaign settings: retailers supply relevant offers, and Google uses AI to decide when to display them. The announcement's illustrated flow labels the placement Sponsored deal.

Related terms

FAQ

Can I use the AI Overviews country list to check AI Mode ads?

Use the placement-specific documentation. Google's country list applies to ads within AI Overviews; its AI Mode rollout summary specifies English in the US.

Are Highlighted Answers ordinary links in the recommendation list?

Google's format announcement describes Highlighted Answers as advertising placements within recommendation lists. It says the new formats are labeled Sponsored.

Does Direct Offers have a separate rollout?

Google introduces it as a Google Ads pilot directly in AI Mode. Retailers configure offers in their campaign settings, and Google determines when an offer is relevant to display.

Sources

  1. Google, "More opportunities for your business on Google Search", 21 May 2025
  2. Google Ads Help, "Google Marketing Live 2025: Your roundup of announcements", 21 May 2025
  3. Google Ads Help, "Google Ads Highlights of 2025", 8 December 2025
  4. Google, "New tech and tools for retailers to succeed in an agentic shopping era", 11 January 2026
  5. Google, "A new generation of ads for the AI era of Search", 20 May 2026
  6. Google Ads Help, "About ads and AI Overviews", accessed 17 October 2026

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