Google has officially denied claims that it plans to introduce ads to its Gemini AI chatbot in 2026. A report by Adweek suggested that the company had informed advertising clients about a potential ad rollout next year as part of a broader monetization strategy. Google representatives had reportedly held calls with agencies to discuss the plans.

The report said these placements would differ from the ads already appearing in AI Overviews and the tests currently running in AI Mode. However, agency buyers who spoke with Adweek said they had not seen prototypes or technical details explaining how the ads would work inside the chatbot.

Google’s response to the Gemini ads claim

Google’s Vice President of Global Ads, Dan Taylor, posted on X that the report relied on “uninformed, anonymous sources who are making inaccurate claims.” Taylor added that there are no ads in the Gemini app and no current plans to add them. Google’s official AdsLiaison account also clarified that the Gemini chatbot remains ad-free.

While Gemini itself does not feature ads, Google has already introduced ads in other parts of its AI ecosystem. Ads currently appear in AI Overviews in English across various markets, and the company is testing similar placements in AI Mode.

A wider look at AI chatbot ads

The discussion around ads in AI chatbots is growing across the ad tech industry. Claims of ads coming to ChatGPT have also circulated. Recently, some users reported seeing prompts for shopping at Target. However, ChatGPT Product Manager Nick Turley disputed the claim, saying “there are no live tests for ads” in the chatbot. 

Turley added that any future approach would be considered carefully. Still, marketers and advertisers are evaluating new AI environments to understand where budgets might eventually sit and how formats could influence user behavior.

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