Google signals ads may come to Gemini app as AI monetization pressures mount across industry

Google Is Considering Ads in Gemini, But Says It's Not Rushing Anything

Gemini has so far remained ad-free while other Google tools, such as AI Mode for search, have experimented with paid-for placements. That may change in the future as Google says it is considering bringing ads to Gemini. As Business Insider notes, Google's chief business officer, Philipp Schindler, used the company's recent earnings call to discuss monetization options, including Gemini's current subscription model and future sponsored results. "Our focus right now is on AI Mode, but it's fair to say that we really believe a format that works well in AI Mode would transfer successfully to [the] Gemini app," Schindler said. Today, the focus in the Gemini app is on the free tier and subscriptions. "But let's also be clear, ads have always been a big part of scaling products to reach billions of people," he adds. "And if done well, ads can be really valuable and really helpful commercial information. And at the right moment, we'll share any plans as we have said. But we're not rushing anything here." In December, Google said it wasn't planning to launch ads in Gemini anytime soon after Adweek reported that Google was briefing clients about plans for ads. At the time, Google said the story was based on "uninformed, anonymous sources who are making inaccurate claims." Other rivals have been exploring how to monetize AI chatbots beyond subscription plans, with Google's biggest rival, OpenAI, experimenting with ads for both free users and low-cost subscription tiers. Anthropic, the makers of Claude AI, are avoiding ads, with a promise to keep them away from results for the foreseeable future.

Gemini's clean chat interface may not stay ad-free for long

Google exec Philipp Schindler says ad formats from AI Mode could carry over to Gemini. The Gemini app has long been a refuge from the constant clutter of the modern web. There were no banners or sponsored snippets. Now, that clean interface is about to change. A Google executive suggests the company is not ruling out ways to make money from its flagship AI assistant. During the company's Q1 2026 earnings call on Wednesday, Google's chief business officer Philipp Schindler confirmed the company is open to shoving ads into the standalone Gemini app, Business Insider reports. For now, though, Google isn't rushing. But Schindler added that if an ad format works in Google's new AI Mode for Search, it could be used in the Gemini app too. Google already runs ads in AI Overviews and is testing AI Mode, a conversational search interface. The Gemini app has remained ad-free, and in January, Google's VP of global ads told Business Insider there were "no plans" to change this. Three months later, the company's position has shifted to being "open-minded." The primary reason for this shift is financial, though it is presented in a positive light. Schindler stated that "ads can be really valuable and really helpful commercial information" when implemented effectively. He also noted that ads help scale products "to reach billions of people." This news isn't too surprising. Adweek reported last December that Google had already told agency buyers about plans for Gemini ad placements in 2026. It's worth noting that Gemini already offers paid subscriptions. Google recently announced 350 million total subscribers across its bundles. Still, that may not be enough to keep the chatbot ad-free, especially since OpenAI is now showing ChatGPT ads to free users.

Gemini may get ads soon as executives look to turn the money taps on

I've been covering Android and other mobile technology for close to ten years now, with a specific interest in phone accessories, e-readers, and what makes each individual phone different from another. I delight in looking at the phone market from as many angles as possible, and while my opinions may be odd, at times, they're always from the heart as much as the head. I have a background in the mobile accessories world, which explains my odd enthusiasm for cases and things that clip onto smartphones. I worked for Digital Trends from 2017 to 2025. Gemini, Google's AI service, is enjoying a rise in popularity. While ChatGPT remains the most popular AI chatbot out there, Gemini is catching up, becoming more and more popular. Gemini is becoming one of Google's most popular services, and of course, that means it's probably due ads soon. In an investor call on Wednesday, Google's chief business officer Philipp Schindler stated that Google was "open" to the idea of including ads in Gemini (via Android Authority). Gemini isn't getting ads right now, but Google is open to the idea Just to be absolutely clear: This is not a confirmation that ads will come to Gemini's standalone app, but it does mean that Google is not ruling it out as a possibility. This is a big change from its position only three months ago, when Dan Taylor, Google's VP of global ads, told Business Insider that there were no plans for ads in the standalone app. Now, it seems someone is at least thinking about it. Which means it's very likely to happen. However, it could be some time before ads are actually rolled out to Gemini, and that's because Google is distracted putting ads in other places. The focus at the moment, according to the investor call, is on improving the experience in Google Search's AI mode, where ads are already shown. But if ads work well in AI mode, it seems Google's upper management sees no reason why ads couldn't be introduced into the Gemini app as well. Schindler also said that "ads can be really valuable and really helpful commercial information", which may come as a surprise to anyone who's ever actually experienced online ads. This is part of a larger trend across the AI industry. ChatGPT has introduced ads for its lower tier customers, and as mentioned, Google already includes ads in its AI mode and in AI summaries. Anthropic has claimed it will never include ads in its Claude chatbot, but only time will tell how strong that promise actually is. There's a strong feeling that the era of cheap AI has come to an end, and use limits will start dropping alongside prices rising for a number of AI models. The costs of AI are well known to be enormous, and so far, there seems to be no serious revenue stream that can support a supposedly trillion-dollar industry. It seems unlikely that the money from ads alone could support the nascent industry, but it's clear Google and OpenAI are willing to give it a try. It seems that ads all over your favorite chatbot is an inevitability at this point, and it's likely they'll be hitting some paid subscribers too, if OpenAI is any barometer.

Google is quietly moving toward ads in Gemini

This move could make AI services more accessible but raises important concerns about maintaining transparency and ensuring ads don't influence AI responses. Putting ads in AI replies is a controversial but lucrative practice, and it's one that OpenAI has already embraced with its free and budget-priced ChatGPT plans. But while Google hasn't gone there yet with Gemini, company execs admitted they're mulling the idea. During a call with investors on Wednesday following the release of Google's quarterly financials, Google business chief Philipp Schindler said the company is still focused on integrating ads in AI Mode for Google search, but that "we really believe a format that works well in AI Mode would transfer successfully to the Gemini app." Going further, Schindler noted that "if done well, ads can be really valuable and really helpful commercial information" before adding "we're not rushing into anything here." Google already serves advertisements in its AI Overviews for search results and has tested ads in AI Mode, where users can chat with Gemini within Google search. But for now, there are still no ads in the standalone Gemini app, including for free users. As recently as January, Google said it's more focused on bringing ads to AI Overviews and AI Mode than to the Gemini app, but company execs have always been careful to leave the door open a crack and are now speaking more openly about the idea. OpenAI has already rolled out ads in ChatGPT for users on its free and $8-a-month Go plans. The ads, which appear at the bottom of ChatGPT responses, are clearly marked as "sponsored," and OpenAI says the ads have no influence on ChatGPT replies. Anthropic has yet to put ads in the Claude app and promises it never will. Remember when Anthropic famously trolled OpenAI for its ads during a viral Super Bowl TV spot? Personally, I don't have any inherent issues with ads in AI, provided they adhere to the same conditions that OpenAI is following: that the ads are clearly marked, and that they have no effect on the responses you get. I also believe more ads in AI chatbots are inevitable as the flat-rate AI party comes to an end, and AI providers start hiking the prices for their most powerful agentic products. If ads in Codex means I can use Codex without paying an arm and a leg, I'd be open to that-again, as long as those ads aren't affecting my lines of code. But transparency is the key, and if ChatGPT or Gemini ever were to give answers influenced by sponsors...well, then we'd have a problem.

ChatGPT just landed ads, Now, Google won't rule out ads in Gemini app, of course.

OpenAI recently started testing ads inside ChatGPT, and AI companies are already trying to figure out whether advertising inside an AI chatbot can work without annoying users. Now Google is making it clear that Gemini may not avoid that business model forever. During Alphabet's Q1 2026 earnings call, Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler was asked directly about ads in the Gemini app. He kept the answer measured, saying Google's current focus is the free tier, subscriptions, and AI plans, while the company is working on monetizing AI Mode in Search first. Could ads really come to the Gemini app? While not revealing any immediate plans, Schindler did say that if Google finds an ad format that works well in AI Mode, the same idea could eventually be used in the Gemini app. Schindler also said that ads have helped Google scale products to billions of users before, as long as they are useful and shown at the right moment. That gives Google a familiar argument if Gemini ads arrive later, since ads can help keep a widely used product free. Google says it is not rushing that move. Why are AI companies turning to ads now? The push toward ads ultimately comes down to cost. AI chatbots need expensive computing power every time they generate a response, especially at the scale of hundreds of millions of free users. Subscriptions help, but they may not be enough on their own. Ads give companies another way to fund free access without locking every major AI feature behind a paid plan. Users may not like that trade-off, but it explains why OpenAI is testing ads and why Google is leaving Gemini open to the same path. Why is Google moving carefully? Google's slow approach makes sense, since even OpenAI is still working through the tricky parts of putting ads inside chatbots. A recent report suggested that tracking ad performance in an AI chatbot could be harder than in regular Search. In Search, a query like "best laptop under $1,000" shows clear buying intent. In AI chatbots, that same decision can stretch across comparisons, follow-up questions, and budget changes. This makes it harder for advertisers to tell whether the ad actually helped drive a click or purchase, or whether it simply appeared during the chat without changing the outcome. Recommended Videos Google also has other reasons to move slowly. Search is still growing, and AI seems to be helping that growth. Schindler said people are asking more queries than ever. He pointed to AI Overviews, AI Mode, Lens, Circle to Search, Search Live, and AI-driven search ads as examples of how Google is adding AI across Search without replacing its core business.

Google Eyes Ads Inside Gemini App

If you use a free version of Gemini, it's quite possible that you might soon see ads inside the standalone app. Speaking during an earning's call, Google's chief business officer Philipp Schindler said that, "If done well, ads can be really valuable." The Gemini app is a very clean experience, free from ads and sponsored content. AI Mode is not the same. You can often find sponsored results at the bottom of AI Mode content, related to the product you might be searching for. In a way, you could say this is how ads can be done somewhat tastefully, but Schindler was clear to say that Google is committed to creating a really great user experience. Here's an excerpt from the call, providing context on the conversation as a whole. "Let's also be clear, ads have always been a big part of scaling products to reach billions of people. And if done well, ads can be really valuable and really helpful commercial information, and at the right moment we'll share any plans as we have said, but we're not rushing anything here." Gemini has grown into a very successful AI tool for consumers. Personally, I use it almost every day. It comes as no shock that Google would eventually want to monetize it more. Would that get more folks to pay for the service? So long as the ads don't influence answers, we'll say that it was only a matter of time. Do you have an opinion on ads inside the Gemini app?

The Gemini app might not stay ad-free much longer - Phandroid

For months, Google's position on ads in the Gemini app was pretty clear. In December, Google's VP of Global Ads called reports about Gemini ad plans "inaccurate" and said there were no current plans to change that. That position didn't survive the company's Q1 2026 earnings call. During the call on Wednesday, Google's chief business officer Philipp Schindler said the company's focus right now is on ads in AI Mode, its conversational search experience. Then he added that "a format that works well in AI Mode would transfer successfully to the Gemini app" and that "if done well, ads can be really valuable and really helpful commercial information." That's not a denial. The Gemini app currently has no ads, but Schindler was careful not to rule anything out, and the phrasing landed as a pretty clear signal of where things are heading. For context, Google already serves ads inside AI Overviews in search results and has been testing them in AI Mode. The Gemini app has been expanding rapidly, landing on macOS, replacing Google Assistant across Android, and pulling in 750 million monthly active users according to figures shared on the same earnings call. At that scale, leaving it unmonetized starts to look like a business problem. Google isn't alone in thinking about this. OpenAI already rolled out ads in ChatGPT earlier this year for users on its free and $8-a-month Go plans. Those ads appear below responses, are clearly labeled as sponsored, and OpenAI has said they don't influence the answers. Anthropic has taken the opposite stance, saying it won't put ads in the Claude app at all. Google hasn't announced a timeline, a format, or any specifics. Schindler's comment that the company is "not rushing into anything" suggests Gemini app ads aren't imminent. But the January position of "no plans" has clearly shifted, and Gemini is now Google's primary AI product across pretty much every surface. At some point, that math was always going to catch up with the ad-free promise.

Google Reportedly Plans to Bring Ads to its Gemini AI App

Google has yet to confirm when it will start showing ads in the app Google has been showing commercials and sponsored search results under and over AI Overviews answers for months now. Moreover, various reports in the past have highlighted that the Mountain View-based tech giant is also testing ads in AI Mode. Now, the company could be preparing to bring commercials to its conversational AI assistant, the Gemini AI app. During Google's quarterly earnings conference call, a company executive reportedly told company shareholders and journalists that the tech giant is open to showing ads in the app. This comes months after the Sam Altman-led OpenAI announced it had started rolling out ranked ads in its AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. Google Reportedly Mulls Ads in the Gemini AI App A Business Insider report claims that during the company's quarterly results conference call, Google's Chief Business Officer (CBO), Philipp Schindler, said that the tech giant is open to bringing commercials and sponsored results in the Gemini AI app. The executive pointed out that while its focus remains on bringing ads in AI Mode, the tech giant believes that "a format that works well in AI mode would transfer successfully to the Gemini app." Talking about the financial aspect of displaying commercials in the Gemini AI app, the Google executive reportedly said that ads are expected to "play a key role in growing Gemini," if the same has been executed well. Interestingly, the tech giant already shows ads in AI Overviews search results in various markets, including India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, the US, Australia, and Canada, in English on mobile and desktop devices. The commercials are displayed based on a user's query, along with the content of the AI Overview. As of now, AI Overviews show text and shopping ads from existing search results, as well as "Shopping and Performance Max" campaigns. If Google does roll out ads in the Gemini AI app, it could compete directly with the US-based AI giant, OpenAI. In February, the Sam Altman-led tech firm announced that it had started rolling out ads in its AI-backed chatbot ChatGPT for free and Go users in the US. While announcing this, the company stated that the advertised suggestions "do not influence" ChatGPT's AI-generated responses. Moreover, the ChatGPT ads are only displayed to logged-in adult users, but are now appearing for users under the age of 18.