How AI is changing search and advertising

1/ Google is experimenting with placing ads inside AI-generated search responses and is adding personalized ads to AI overviews and the experimental "AI Mode". 2/ The new AI Max feature is now in global beta and can be accessed through Google Ads, Ads Editor, Search Ads 360, and the Ads API. 3/ With ads now appearing directly in AI-generated content, Google is increasingly publishing its own material and reducing the reach and ad revenue opportunities for external providers. https://lnkd.in/eC3GEJJt

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Spider-Man's Uncle Ben wasn’t talking about advertising, but the line feels especially relevant now that AI is reshaping how we work. I’m a big fan of AI. I use it daily to speed up processes, catch mistakes, and leave more room for creative and strategic thinking. I even use it to help me generate quick content for my Dungeons and Dragons campaign in my personal time (you try coming up with five different elven names for a chaotic table of improvisational players). But AI isn’t magic—it’s just a tool. And like any tool, the results depend on how responsibly we use it. One big concern is how search is changing. AI-generated answers often appear directly on results pages. Sure, it’s convenient for users—but it pulls clicks away from publishers and businesses. Less traffic means fewer ad dollars, less visibility, and eventually less incentive to keep producing the very content AI is trained on. And that’s the bigger risk: if we keep sidelining human creativity and ingenuity, we’ll hit a roadblock. Without new, original content being created, LLMs will run out of fresh ideas to learn from. The cycle breaks down, and the tool that once felt limitless becomes limited by its own short-sighted use. So what does responsible adoption look like? 1. Be transparent. 😶🌫️ People should know when AI is involved. Transparency builds trust. 2. Use AI as support, not a replacement. 🦾 Let it handle repetitive tasks while humans stay at the center of strategy and creativity. And for the love of God, stop using AI to screen out great, qualified, and strong resumes. The tech isn't there yet when it comes to scouting out great human talent, and much gets lost in the 1s and 0s. 3. Protect the ecosystem. 🛡️ If AI uses publisher content, platforms should also make sure those sources stay sustainable, perhaps introducing new monetization systems that reward the source from which that AI pulled. 4. Put guardrails in place. 🕵 Bias, misinformation, and unintended consequences don’t just “work themselves out.” They need active checks. 5. Work together. 🤝 Responsible adoption should be an industry-wide standard, not a solo effort. AI will absolutely shape the future of advertising, whether we like it or not. The question is whether we’ll let it weaken the ecosystem it depends on—or use it in ways that make both people and technology stronger. For me, the answer comes back to that Spider-Man quote: with great power comes great responsibility. (AI was used to edit my scatterbrained typos 😉 ) #marketingoperations #adoperations #llms #artificialintelligence #ai #advertising

Google’s Moving Goalposts: Search Live, AI Max, and the Future of Paid Visibility Google’s recent moves around Search Live, AI Max, and paid ad placement in AI Overviews are more than incremental updates. They’re a fundamental reshaping of how visibility is earned, how ads appear, and how helpful content is judged. For dealerships and agencies, the message is loud and clear: if you’re not investing in a modern, helpful content strategy today, you’re already behind.

Google’s Moving Goalposts: Search Live, AI Max, and the Future of Paid Visibility - Google’s recent moves around Search Live, AI Max, and paid ad placement in AI Overviews are more than incremental updates. They’re a fundamental reshaping of how visibility is earned, how ads appear, and how helpful content is judged. For dealerships and agencies, the message is loud and clear: if you’re not investing in a modern, helpful content strategy today, you’re already behind. - https://go.hrizn.io/7ioEJw

Google’s Moving Goalposts: Search Live, AI Max, and the Future of Paid Visibility - Google’s recent moves around Search Live, AI Max, and paid ad placement in AI Overviews are more than incremental updates. They’re a fundamental reshaping of how visibility is earned, how ads appear, and how helpful content is judged. For dealerships and agencies, the message is loud and clear: if you’re not investing in a modern, helpful content strategy today, you’re already behind. - https://lnkd.in/dMedfUJ5

Google’s Moving Goalposts: Search Live, AI Max, and the Future of Paid Visibility - Google’s recent moves around Search Live, AI Max, and paid ad placement in AI Overviews are more than incremental updates. They’re a fundamental reshaping of how visibility is earned, how ads appear, and how helpful content is judged. For dealerships and agencies, the message is loud and clear: if you’re not investing in a modern, helpful content strategy today, you’re already behind. - https://lnkd.in/dMedfUJ5

Google finally dropped support for 9:16 in VEO 3. If you’re in marketing or e-commerce, this isn’t just a feature update. It’s a shift in how your brand shows up in the feed. Here’s why this matters: Vertical isn’t just a trend. It’s the native language of mobile-first attention. 9:16 has become the dominant format on TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts—and now, Google’s own AI video model, VEO 3, has joined the party. That means: High-quality vertical ads in less time. Native-first creative without repurposing horizontal content. But here’s the catch: Most companies are still structured around desktop mindsets and horizontal thinking. Campaigns are complex. Video creation is slow. Teams are stuck in feedback loops, wasting time on formats that no longer win. The tech is here. The shift is happening. The question is: Are your processes built for speed and scale? In the past 6 months, we’ve helped founders streamline their content ops by identifying where AI fits into the system and where it doesn’t. Because this isn’t about replacing your team. It’s about unblocking them. You don’t need more tools. You need smarter systems. Build your creative workflows around vertical video and let AI handle the grunt work. What part of your marketing process still feels like it's stuck in 2018? DM me if you want a second set of eyes on how you're using AI and automation in your content ops.

🤔 Ever wonder how some businesses always seem to “crack the code” with online ads? Their secret isn’t luck (or giant budgets) - it’s AI. AI in advertising can: ✨ Show your ads to the right people at the right time ✨ Automatically adjust your budget so you don’t overspend ✨ Learn from results to make your next ad even better The best part? You don’t need to be an expert - these tools do the heavy lifting for you. 📖 Check out our beginner-friendly guide to see how AI can make your ads smarter (not harder): https://lnkd.in/dc894FUn

AI leveled the playing field for small brands. What once took six figures, video crews, and endless edits—now takes minutes. Amazon and Roku’s new AI ad tools are breaking down creative barriers, letting SMBs launch polished campaigns faster and cheaper than ever. But speed comes with risk: generic creative, brand dilution, and wasted ad spend if you don’t set guardrails. We break down what’s working, what to watch out for, and how to make AI a true competitive equalizer. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eH5EcznK

AgencyAnalytics’ 2025 Marketing Agency Benchmarks Report reveals key trends in paid advertising, generative AI, and client retention strategies. “With generative AI, economic uncertainty, and evolving platform rules reshaping how agencies work, it’s more important than ever to stay grounded in what actually drives results,” said Joe Kindness, CEO at AgencyAnalytics. Read the full news: https://lnkd.in/dpgzCPqi #MarketingAgency #PaidAdvertising #GenerativeAI #ClientRetention #DigitalMarketing #AgencyAnalytics #SEOTrends #TechIntelPro