Google announced on October 28, 2026, the day before Alphabet's Q3 results, that ads in AI Mode are expanding beyond the US. These answers draw on Google's Ads announcement, the earnings call as reported by TechCrunch, and Search Engine Journal's reading of Google's October 16 privacy policy update. For how to run the campaigns, see how to advertise on Google AI Mode.
Where and When
Q: Which countries have ads in AI Mode?
The US, plus ten markets added on October 28: Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Singapore. One report says Pakistan gets text ads only.
Q: When do AI Mode ads reach the UK?
Google plans Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom for the fourth quarter of 2026, with no exact date.
Q: Do advertisers have to opt in?
Coverage says eligible campaigns in the new markets are enrolled automatically, with no separate opt-out for AI Mode.
Formats
Q: What are multiturn ads?
Ads that can appear in follow-up questions in an AI Mode conversation, not only the first answer. They are US only for now. See multiturn ads.
Q: How are AI Mode ads labelled?
Google says they are "clearly labeled as 'Sponsored.'"
Q: Do AI Mode ads get clicked?
Google says click-through rates are already similar for sponsored and organic product listings in AI Mode, from its own US data for August 20 to September 3, 2026. No outside data backs that up yet.
Privacy and Targeting
Q: Can Google use my Gmail to target AI Mode ads?
For users who opt in to Personal Intelligence, Google's privacy policy update effective October 16, 2026 allows content from connected apps such as Gmail, Photos and Drive to inform personalized ads. Search Engine Journal reports that ads are informed by summaries and inferences, not matched to raw content, and that health, religion, race and sexual orientation are excluded.
Q: How do users turn that off?
Turning off personalized ads in My Ad Center doesn't stop connected apps from feeding AI features. To stop it fully, users disconnect the apps under Search personalization, Connected Content Apps, in their Google Account.
Q: Can advertisers see users' email?
No. Advertisers get no access to user content, and Google hasn't announced new targeting or reporting options tied to it.
Why Google Is Doing This
Q: Why expand AI Mode ads now?
Alphabet's Search and other revenue grew 12% in Q3 2026 to $63.35 billion, down from 19% growth in Q1 and 17% in Q2, and almost flat on Q2. Sundar Pichai said AI Mode queries are three times longer on average than traditional searches. Ads in AI Mode are how Google charges for that shift.
Q: What does it mean for brands that don't advertise?
Organic recommendations in AI Mode now share space with sponsored ones, including in follow-ups in the US. Being named organically still matters, but competitors can now buy their way into the same answer. Track both. See Perplexity vs Google AI Mode vs ChatGPT ads.