In December 2025, conflicting signals emerged from Google regarding the monetization of its Gemini AI chatbot. While anonymous reports indicated conversations with advertisers about potential ad placements for Gemini scheduled in 2026, Dan Taylor, Google’s Vice President of Global Ads, publicly denied these claims via social media, stating there were “no ads in the Gemini app and no current plans to change that.” The absence of clear details about ad formats and testing protocols during discussions further fueled uncertainty among marketing teams, especially as the chatbot boasted over 650 million active users. Amidst these developments, Google tests ads within its AI Mode, a separate product. The ongoing tension between internal discussions and public denials raises questions about future monetization strategies. As Google navigates the complexities of integrating ads in a conversational AI setting, marketers must prepare for various scenarios in their budget planning for 2026.
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