According to Android Authority, a new report from Adweek claims Google is in active discussions with advertising clients to bring ads to its Gemini AI experience, targeting a 2026 rollout. However, Google Vice President of Global Ads Dan Taylor has publicly and vehemently denied the report on X, calling it false and based on “uninformed, anonymous sources.” Taylor stated there are currently no ads in the Gemini app and that Google has “no current plans to change that.” This denial comes just as evidence surfaces that OpenAI’s ChatGPT is also exploring ad features, and as Google itself confirms it’s testing sponsored results within its AI-powered Search Generative Experience.
The Denial Is Loud, But The Context Is Louder
Look, Google‘s denial is pretty definitive for now. Dan Taylor didn’t leave much wiggle room in his post on X. But here’s the thing: the context surrounding this denial tells a completely different story. Google is already testing ads in its AI Search results. Advertising is, quite literally, the oxygen that fuels the entire Google machine. And their biggest competitor in the AI chat space, ChatGPT, seems to be heading down the same path with code references to “search ad” and “bazaar content.” So when Google says “no current plans,” my immediate thought is, “Okay, but what about *future* plans?”
Follow The Money, Always
Let’s be real. The compute costs for running these massive AI models are astronomical. Companies like Google and OpenAI aren’t building these incredibly complex services out of the goodness of their hearts. They need a path to revenue, and for Google, that path has always been paved with advertising. It’s in their DNA. To think that Gemini, a flagship product with massive development costs, will remain a pristine, ad-free garden forever seems… naive. The Adweek report citing a 2026 timeline feels plausible, even if Google is denying the specific conversations today. It gives them time to refine the user experience and figure out how to slap a “Sponsored” label on an AI response without completely breaking user trust.
What Does An AI Ad Even Look Like?
This is the billion-dollar question. We’re not talking about a simple banner ad at the top of your chat. The integration would have to be native, maybe even manipulative. Imagine asking Gemini for recipe ideas and having it “helpfully” suggest brands of ingredients. Or asking for travel advice to Paris and getting a nudge toward specific airlines or hotels. The line between helpful suggestion and paid placement could get dangerously blurry. And if both major players—Google and OpenAI—go down this road, users might not have a true ad-free alternative to turn to.
So, while the official word from Google is a firm “no,” the trajectory seems pretty clear. They’re testing the waters in AI Search. The rival is likely doing it. The business model demands it. I’d give it a year, maybe two, before “no current plans” quietly becomes “we’re experimenting with a new, value-added commercial experience.” Bet on it.
