Can Google Ads Show in AI Overviews?

Yes, they can.

Google confirms that text, Shopping, local, and app ads from existing Search, Shopping, or Performance Max campaigns may appear above, within, or below AI Overviews depending on relevance and context. No special setup is required—if you’re running these campaigns in markets where AI Overviews are live, your ads are automatically eligible.

Where Do These Ads Appear?

• Ads may show above, within, or below AI Overviews.

• They do not appear in multiple placements at the same time.

• Placement depends on auction signals, intent, and match types.
  

How Ads Are Placed and Matched

Ads are triggered by:

1. Commercial Intent – Both the query and AI Overview must suggest buying or discovery intent.

2. Ad Relevance – Alignment with both the query and AI-generated summary.

3. Auction Factors – Standard signals like bid, Quality Score, and landing page experience.
   

How to Improve Chances of Showing Up

• Use broad match keywords and keywordless targeting (e.g., Dynamic Search Ads, AI Max, Performance Max).

• Target natural language queries and top-of-funnel searches (e.g., “best shoes for flat feet” instead of just “running shoes”).

• Adopt Smart Bidding to let Google’s AI optimize placement.

• Optimize your Shopping feed with accurate product data, images, and pricing.
  

Key Limitations

• No way to opt out of AI Overview placements.

• Reporting is not broken out—performance is lumped into standard campaign metrics.

• Ads may show inconsistently depending on auction outcomes.
  

Strategic Takeaways

• Focus on contextual relevance, not just keywords.

• Lean into automation and flexibility to capture emerging queries.

• Keep creative and Shopping feeds polished and accurate.

• Watch performance shifts closely to understand the impact of AI Overviews.