Google quietly corrects the narrative around Gemini – here's what's shifting

Recently, we reported on the possibility that OpenAI may start showing ads in ChatGPT. A similar rumor about Google's AI chatbot, Gemini, has also been talked about. However, the Mountain View tech giant is now saying that it has "no plans" for ads in Gemini.

Google reportedly has no plans to have ads in Gemini 

An earlier report claimed that Google had told its "advertising clients" that it plans to include ads in its chatbot Gemini sometime in 2026 (separate from existing ads in AI Mode and AI Overviews). However, Google denies that this has happened. 

Generative AI is growing 

Gemini is currently growing at a very quick pace. Back in October, Google announced Gemini now had more than 650 million monthly users, which is almost double what it had earlier this year (350 million). Apparently, some of the growth was thanks to Nano Banana. According to Google, Nano Banana drove 23 million new users.


In the meantime, rumors about Gemini rival ChatGPT getting ads have also recently been circulating on the internet. Of course, these rumors are not confirmed at the moment, but a reverse engineer has seemingly found references to ads in the ChatGPT chatbot. ChatGPT is also offering a free version at the moment, as well as paid subscriptions, which offer access to more models and more powerful ones at that. 

Other generative AI platforms are following similar business strategies at the moment as well. Most AI platforms (if not all) offer some limited free access. Obviously, paid subscribers for the platforms get more options to choose models and less limitations.

Why I actually prefer AI chatbots without ads

In my opinion, keeping the actual chat window ad-free is really important. When you're talking to an AI, you want to feel like the answer you're getting is there because it's the right one – not because it’s an ad disguised as help. So I'm glad Google is saying Gemini won't get ads in the chat itself.

That said, I get that free products need to be monetized somehow. If companies want to experiment with ads in separate areas – like AI Overviews or some extra features – that's fine. I just don't want them to appear right in the middle of a conversation. Honestly, I'd rather just pay for a subscription than deal with ads while I'm asking the AI something important.

So if the future ends up being "pay for clean AI, free tier gets some ads," I'm okay with that. As long as the main chat stays simple, focused, and not full of distractions, I think most people who care about the experience will happily pick the paid option. And at the end of the day, a smooth, peaceful chat is worth a few bucks a month.