Google will start showing ads in AI Mode in more countries outside the US, the company has announced. Say what you want, but Google's AI Mode does make finding things on the internet easier. No need to manually open dozens of tabs and sift through tons of info — just ask and you'll get your answer. Now, though, with the latest update, you'll start seeing ads in those results.
Google ends ad-free AI Mode outside the US
Google will start showing ads in AI Mode results in 10 countries outside the US. More regions to follow soon. | Image by Google
Google has announced that it will start showing ads in AI Mode in 10 more countries outside the US. Up until now, the AI Mode experience was ad-free everywhere except in the States, but that's about to change.
The ten new countries that will get ads in AI Mode are India, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Google says ads are coming to more countries in Q4 2026, including Brazil, Mexico, and the UK. For the time being, users in the European Union will continue to enjoy the ad-free AI Mode.
How will these ads look?
Google introduced shopping ad format in AI Mode on February 11, 2026. | Image by Google
If you use AI Mode to search for a product — say, the best telescope under $500 for planetary observation — along with the usual results, Google will serve you product listings for telescopes you can actually buy.
Our research shows that people are comfortable with ads in AI Mode and find them highly relevant. In fact, click-through rates are already similar between sponsored and organic product list items within AI Mode.
- Shashi Thakur VP and GM, Google Search Ads and Ads on Google Experiences, Oct 28, 2026
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These will be marked as "Sponsored" in order to avoid any confusion. Google also thinks that these ads won't be annoying, but rather useful. The company's internal research has shown that people are comfortable with such ads in AI Mode and find them relevant.
In AI Mode, queries are, on average, three times longer than traditional searches
- Shashi Thakur VP and GM, Google Search Ads and Ads on Google Experiences, Oct 28, 2026
According to Google's data, AI Mode searches are, on average, three times longer than traditional search queries. This means people are describing their searches in much more detail and, of course, in a much more conversational style. Google thinks that this could result in ads that are more personalized and, in the end, more helpful.
Google didn't ask people whether they prefer an ad-free AI Mode experience over these new "highly contextual and helpful" ads, though, so the jury's still out on this one.
How do you feel about such ads in your AI Mode search results?
0 Votes
More ads in AI Mode are coming to the US
To make matters worse — or more helpful, from Google's angle — the company is introducing new, multi-turn ads for users in the States. To put it simply, Google will continue to serve ads even in follow-up questions and answers.
Say you're narrowing down the $500 telescope options from the example above. When you ask whether you should get a refractor or a reflector, you'll get more ads featuring those two types of telescopes in the follow-up answer.
Google is trying to supercharge its ads business
Alphabet's Q3 earnings are already out, showing a total revenue of $127.58 billion (up 25% YoY from $102.35 billion), but the net income figures are down: $26.17 billion (down from $34.98 billion in Q3 2025).
The core advertising business is slowing down as AI Mode slowly replaces traditional Google Search. The company is starting to see the first repercussions of that transition when it comes to ad revenue. Unsurprisingly, Google wants to protect the money it makes from ads, and that involves moving those ads to AI Mode — for better or for worse.
How do you feel about such ads in your AI Mode search results?
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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