Google just transformed the advertising world at their Marketing Live 2025 event on May 21. The tech giant unveiled major AI features that will change how ads work across their platforms. Most notably, Google is expanding ads into AI Overviews on desktop and introducing ads within their new AI Mode search experience.
Key Takeaways
- Google is adding ads to AI Overviews on desktop and within their new AI Mode search experience, creating new opportunities for advertisers
- New AI creative tools called Veo and Imagen will help marketers create videos and images directly within Google Ads and Merchant Center
The New Ad Frontier
Google’s AI Overviews, which provide quick summaries at the top of search results, will now include ads on desktop. They were already on mobile. This means when someone searches “how to bring small dogs on flights,” they might see relevant ads for dog carriers alongside helpful information.
Even bigger news? Google’s AI Mode – their conversational search experience – will now display ads too. Think of it like chatting with an AI that can show you products when your questions hint at buying something. It’s smart. Really smart.
These changes help Google make money from its AI investments while trying not to annoy users. The company hopes that by making ads match what you’re looking for, they’ll feel helpful rather than intrusive. Like finding a store selling exactly what you need, right when you’re thinking about it.
AI-Powered Creative Tools
Creating ads just got easier. Google unveiled two powerful AI tools: Veo and Imagen. Veo helps make videos that work across different formats. Imagen creates custom images that match your brand.
Both tools live inside Google Ads and Merchant Center. No more switching between programs. No more hiring expensive creative teams for every small project.
This is huge for small businesses. They can now create professional-looking ads without massive budgets. For big companies, it means making more versions of ads faster than ever before.
What This Means For Marketers
If you work in marketing, pay attention. New spaces for your ads just opened up. The AI Overviews and AI Mode aren’t just new places to show ads – they represent entirely new ways to reach people when they’re actively seeking information.
Google is also improving campaign insights. Their Performance Max campaigns now offer clearer information about where your ads perform best. This helps you spend money more wisely.
Microsoft’s Bing is also adding AI search ads, so competition is heating up. Google clearly wants to stay ahead. The race to own AI advertising is on, like sprinters bursting from the starting blocks.
For marketers, the message is clear: start learning these tools now. The companies that master AI-powered advertising first will have a huge advantage. These aren’t just fancy new features – they’re reshaping how digital advertising works at its core.
The changes announced at Google Marketing Live 2025 mark a turning point where AI doesn’t just deliver ads but helps create them too. For Google, it’s about balancing innovation with user experience. For advertisers, it’s about reaching the right people with better content, faster than ever before.
