{"id":18560,"date":"2025-12-11T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/media-beats.com\/?p=18560"},"modified":"2025-12-23T12:37:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T11:37:58","slug":"google-ads-2026-ai-features","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/media-beats.com\/en\/google-ads-2026-ai-features\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Ads in 2026: How to use the new AI features"},"content":{"rendered":"

How do you keep your campaigns visible while users<\/a> are simultaneously searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping<\/a>? The current version of Google Ads<\/a> addresses exactly this challenge by combining traditional campaigns with a new generation of Google AI<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, you\u2019ll learn how Google Ads<\/strong> is structured at the end of 2025, which products have changed, and how to use them strategically. Topics include Search with AI Overviews and AI Mode<\/strong>, visual formats like YouTube<\/a> and Demand Gen<\/strong>, Performance Max<\/a>, app campaigns, retail features in the Merchant Center, as well as new measurement and creative solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal: You\u2019ll understand how to use Google Ads<\/strong> today as an AI<\/a>-driven ecosystem instead of just testing individual features. This allows you to allocate your budgets precisely, support the entire customer journey<\/a>, and refine your own online marketing strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What features does Google Ads offer today?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Google Ads<\/a> today is less a single product and more a new generation of platforms. At its core is Google AI<\/a>, which connects all campaign formats more deeply and offers you greater automation<\/a> and more control options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the search results page, Google<\/strong> integrates traditional text ads with generative<\/a> answers. Ads can appear in AI Overviews<\/a> or in AI Mode<\/strong>, where users<\/a> ask complex questions. At the same time, AI Max<\/strong> bundles many AI features<\/a> for search campaigns, from data-driven targeting<\/a> to dynamic text adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the top of the funnel<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> and Demand Gen stand out with strong visual discovery. They combine AI<\/a>-optimized delivery with high-reach<\/a> inventories like Shorts<\/a>, Connected TV<\/a>, or the Google Display Network. Performance Max<\/strong> acts as an overarching campaign that covers all channels<\/strong> with a single AI logic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system is complemented by app<\/a> campaigns, commerce<\/a> features in the Merchant Center<\/a>, new measurement tools<\/strong> like Meridian<\/strong>, and creative workflows<\/a> in the Asset Studio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why will Google Ads still be important in 2026?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The platform matters because user behavior<\/a> is changing permanently. People switch between devices, formats, and platforms before making a decision. With isolated campaigns, you quickly lose relevance and budget efficiency<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new generation connects search intent<\/a>, video<\/a> usage, shopping<\/a> signals, and app<\/a> data into one AI<\/a>-powered system. This allows you to plan across the entire customer journey<\/a>\u2014from the initial search impulse to the final conversion<\/a> in the webshop<\/a> or the app<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your business, this means: less manual routine, more time for strategy<\/a>. You focus on messaging, offers, landing pages<\/a>, and overarching performance<\/a> goals. Google AI<\/strong> takes over large parts of campaign delivery and optimization\u2014as long as your data foundation is solid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Google Ads works in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step-by-step instructions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Define clear goals and metrics<\/strong>
    Determine which KPIs truly matter\u2014such as online revenue,     qualified leads<\/a>, app installs, or store visits. Set up conversion<\/a> tracking<\/a> properly and ensure that Google Analytics<\/a> and Google Ads<\/a> are correctly connected.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Modernize your data foundation and tracking<\/strong>
    Use a data manager to unify data from your     website<\/a>, app<\/a>, physical store, and CRM<\/a>. Implement modern tags<\/strong> and leverage solutions like Google Tag Gateway<\/strong> to ensure Google AI<\/strong> receives maximum signals\u2014while respecting data privacy.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Plan your search strategy with AI Max and Smart Bidding<\/strong>
    Start with AI Max for Search<\/strong> to unlock broader     audiences<\/a> and search queries. Use Smart Bidding strategies<\/a> like Target ROAS<\/a> or Target CPA<\/a>. Leverage Smart Bidding Exploration<\/strong> to test new traffic<\/a> segments in a controlled way.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Use Performance Max for cross-channel reach<\/strong>
    Enhance your search strategy with     Performance Max<\/a>. Provide high-quality creatives<\/a>, product feeds, and clear objectives. Then analyze channel reports and search terms to continuously improve landing pages<\/a>, copy, and creatives<\/a>.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Use YouTube and Demand Gen for discovery<\/strong>
    Plan your     YouTube campaigns<\/a> for Connected TV<\/a>, Shorts<\/a>, and classic in-stream ads<\/a>. Add Demand Gen<\/strong> to deliver visual discovery<\/strong> across YouTube<\/a>, Discover<\/strong>, Gmail<\/strong>, and Display<\/a>. Use new campaign goals for customer acquisition and optimization scripts for clicks<\/a> or conversions<\/a>.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Expand retail features, Merchant Center, and feeds<\/strong>
    If you sell products, maintain your Merchant Center account<\/strong> consistently. Use Brand Profile<\/strong>, product feeds<\/strong>, promotion info<\/strong>,     videos<\/a>, and generated assets from Product Studio<\/strong>. Through omni-channel<\/a> bidding, you can optimize both online sales and in-store visits.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Connect app journeys and Web-to-App<\/strong>
    Link your web campaigns with your     app<\/a> using Web to App Connect<\/strong> and Web-to-App measurement<\/strong>. This helps you identify which campaigns truly drive app installs<\/strong> and valuable in-app events<\/strong>. Use target ROAS<\/a> or Maximize Conversion Value<\/strong> to attract high-quality users<\/a>.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Establish agentic tools and experiments<\/strong>
    Use Ads Advisor<\/strong> and Analytics Advisor<\/strong> as sparring partners<\/strong>. Ask questions in natural language, identify issues faster, and get concrete optimization suggestions. Supplement this with regular tests using Meridian<\/strong> and conversion lift experiments<\/strong>.
    <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Tools in Google Ads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In Google Ads<\/a>, rigid channel boundaries are disappearing. Key components include<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n