Google Starts Testing Ads In AI Mode

Google has begun testing sponsored ads inside its Gemini-powered AI Mode, placing labeled 'sponsored' links at the bottom of AI-generated responses. Engadget reports: [A] Google spokesperson says the result shown is akin to similar tests it's been running this year. 'People seeing ads in AI Mode in the wild is simply part of Google's ongoing tests, which we've been running for several months,' the spokesperson said. The push to start offering ads in AI Mode was announced in May. The company also told 9to5Google that there are no current plans to fully update AI Mode to incorporate ads. For now, the software seems to be prioritizing organic links over sponsored links, but we all know how insidious ads can be once the floodgates open...

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