What once felt like a private and intelligent digital dialogue may soon echo with the clinks of commerce. According to a report from Bloomberg, in a quietly unfolding move, Google has started placing ads inside conversations with third-party AI chatbots, transforming once ad-free exchanges into subtle marketing zones. The initiative, part of Google’s AdSense for Search programme, is now being expanded after initial testing with AI startups like iAsk and Liner earlier this year. These aren’t the flashy banner ads of yesteryear, nor are they the sponsored snippets seen on traditional Google searches. Instead, the ads blend directly into the flow of AI conversations—strategically designed to appear helpful, even conversational. But make no mistake, they are still ads.

From Questions to Commerce: The Changing Face of AI Chat

This shift reflects a pressing need at Google’s end. As more users opt for generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity to answer their questions, Google’s once unshakable dominance in search advertising has started to waver. The classic search engine, long the goldmine of targeted ads, is no longer the only place people seek information. So, Google is following the users—right into their AI-powered chats.

A Google spokesperson confirmed the development to Bloomberg, noting that AdSense for Search is now being made available to websites with conversational AI experiences. Translation: your chatbot’s next answer might come with a side of subtle sales pitch.

A Slippery Slope for Digital Dialogue

At its core, this marks a deeper shift—one that could change the very nature of how we interact with AI. If ads begin appearing mid-conversation, will users trust their AI assistant the same way? Will advice, suggestions, or product mentions be genuinely helpful—or commercially motivated?

What’s unfolding is not merely a technical update but a philosophical reckoning. Google’s move may well set a precedent for other tech giants. As advertising infiltrates generative AI experiences, the blurred line between unbiased help and targeted influence is set to get even murkier. The next time your chatbot offers a product recommendation, you might have to wonder: was that insight… or an ad?