Google clarifies where ads appear in AI Overviews

🧠 First, What Are AI Overviews?

If you haven’t encountered them yet, Google’s AI Overviews are automated summaries that sit at the very top of search results before organic links, before ads, before anything.

They scrape and summarize multiple sources to answer questions right on the results page reducing the need to click through.

Naturally, this raised one big concern:
Where do ads go now? Are they disappearing too?

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📢 The Clarity from Google

In a recent update, Google confirmed:

“Ads will continue to appear above and below AI Overviews in a clearly labeled format.”

Translation:

• Ads won’t be inside the AI box (at least for now)

• But they can appear above the overview or beneath it, depending on relevance and user query intent

So yes your ads are still showing. But they may be slightly less visible than before, especially if the AI box satisfies the user's question upfront.

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🎯 Case Study: Realignment for a Tech Client

One of my clients a SaaS tool for project managers had heavily relied on Google Ads for top-funnel traffic.

Over two months, their ad impressions dipped by 18%. Conversions took a slight hit too.

We discovered that:

• Many of their top keywords now triggered AI Overviews

• Users were getting quick answers and not scrolling down to ads

Our approach to fix it:
✅ Shifted some budget to branded terms with lower AI overview interference
✅ Created ad copy with direct answers and emotional hooks
✅ Launched YouTube and Performance Max campaigns for more visual/top-of-funnel exposure
✅ Refined landing pages to match intent post-AI Summary

📈 The result:

• Impressions recovered by 12%

• Cost per lead dropped by 9%

• Users spent more time on site after clicking

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💡 What You Should Do Next

If you’re running Google Ads in 2024, here’s what I recommend:

1. Audit Your Top Keywords

See if your main keywords are triggering AI Overviews. If so, adjust bid strategy or ad content.

2. Add Clarity & Urgency in Headlines

If your ad is fighting against a full AI answer, your copy needs to win the scroll not just the click.

3. Use Ad Extensions Generously

Structured snippets, callouts, and site links now act like mini hooks beneath your main ad. Use them to increase visibility.

4. Diversify Ad Formats

Test Performance Max, Discovery, or YouTube ads. Don't rely solely on traditional search placements anymore.

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🧭 The Bigger Picture

This update isn’t the end of Google Ads.
But it is a shift and smart marketers will see this as an opportunity to evolve, not panic.

People still click on ads, just not when they’ve already been answered.

So the real win?
Create ads that go beyond the AI answers. Be clearer. Be faster. Be more human.

As the best freelance digital marketer in Malappuram, I’ve helped local businesses and startups adapt their ad strategies to survive shifts like this and come out with stronger campaigns than ever.

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✍️ Final Take

The AI Overview isn’t your enemy.
It’s a new filter and if you want your ads to break through, your strategy needs to match the moment.

Let’s stay smart. Let’s stay ahead.