4A's Noteworthy News - 22nd Edition
THE BIG STORY
As AI-enhanced search engines become more prominent, tech giants and upstarts alike are racing to define sustainable advertising models that are effective, non intrusive, and rewarding for publishers.
Earlier this month, Google began rolling out ads to its AI-generated search overviews, marking a key step in monetizing AI search. This shift suggests that the future of paid search could be tied closely to how AI integrates ads into contextual content, impacting both visibility and strategy for brands.
Meanwhile, OpenAI plans to release SearchGPT in ChatGPT by the end of the year. But the AI giant is taking a different approach with unclear ad models and no recourse for publishers beyond a promise of potential traffic / clicks.
By contrast, Perplexity teased a rev share model for publishers earlier this year, and has been shopping its pitch deck around for the last few months, promising a new vision for AI search. At Advertising Week in NY last week, curious attendees packed a panel featuring Perplexity - hoping for fresh news and more details. Specifics remain thin but the focus appears to be on not interrupting the user flow - meaning that ads will be primarily delivered as part of “related questions” that appear in search results.
Which model is right? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: there is a delicate balance between publishers, search engines, consumer behavior, and advertiser investment. Conversational search is already beginning to upset that balance - and agencies must monitor closely and be prepared to adjust strategies as the landscape evolves.
OTHER INTERESTING AI NEWS:
Google's Shopping Update: Google updated its shopping experience with more AI features aimed at making recommendations smarter. Learn more here.
AI Anxiety: A survey reveals 90% of consumers are anxious about AI’s impact. What are their biggest worries? Find out.
ChatGPT Tops 3 Billion Visits: September was a huge month for ChatGPT, with the platform crossing 3 billion visits. See the data.
The New York Times vs. AI: The New York Times is taking Perplexity to task for using its content without permission. Get the full story.
YouTube’s AI Verification: YouTube will begin labeling videos created with AI tools. Read the scoop.
Bias in AI Marketing: Adweek shares four ways to reduce bias in AI advertising and improve diversity. Find out how.
Meta's AI Chief on AI Dangers: Meta’s AI head dismisses concerns about AI being a risk to humanity. Read his take.
TOP AI USE CASES POLL RESULTS
Thanks to everyone who took the poll featuring 20 of our recently featured AI use cases to share your top choice. The results are out and we're excited to reveal the top 3 favorites that emerged:
#1 - Tombras used Google’s Gemini to create over 6,000 hyperlocal ads for PODS
#2 - AI brought 11,000 College Football Players to digital life in three months
Tied for #3
Zola has launched "Split the Decisions," an AI tool designed to balance wedding planning tasks between partners AND
New Absolut program aims to fight AI bias in fashion
NOTE: This post originally appeared on LinkedIn.
