Google Ads News

August 2026

148 updates from August 2026, newest first.

Sunday

2 August 2026
Conversions

Google Clarifies Conversion Tracking

Google has expanded its Ads conversion measurement guidance with clearer timelines, permissions and data-source recommendations. Key updates include a 7–14 day Smart Bidding learning period, 24–48 hour setup delays, and…

AI Image References

Google Ads now lets advertisers upload reference images when generating AI visuals. Products, people, backgrounds or style references can be combined with text prompts to create more tailored ad images.…

Demand Gen & YouTube

Budget Recommendations

Google Ads is introducing a Budget Panel for Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns. It provides Low, Medium and High daily budget recommendations, along with performance forecasts based on campaign…

Conversions

Google Improves Offline Conversion Tracking

Google has published new guidance for tracking offline conversions using GBRAID, a privacy-preserving and case-sensitive URL parameter. It helps advertisers measure more click-based conversions and improve campaign bidding without linking…

Saturday

1 August 2026
GA4 & GTM

Google Updates Data Manager API

Google’s latest Data Manager API update adds a bulk method to remove all audience members, field-level ingestion warnings for optional data, and expanded address support for Google Analytics events. These…

Google Expands AI Ad Labeling

Google has added optional AI content-labeling fields to the Campaign Manager 360 and Display & Video 360 APIs. Advertisers can mark creatives as AI-generated or AI-edited, with labels applied in…

Google Ads API Adds Passkey Requirement

Google Ads API will require passkey authentication for new OAuth 2.0 refresh tokens starting August 5, 2026. Existing refresh tokens and service account workflows are unaffected, but new users may…

DV360 Releases SDF v10.1

Google has released Structured Data Files v10.1 for Display & Video 360, adding AI transparency labels, DOOH campaign support, creative mapping fields and improved bulk management. Versions before v10 are…

Google Tests AI Product Descriptions

Google is testing AI-generated descriptions in Shopping and Product ads. The added context may help shoppers make better decisions, but advertisers have limited control over how products are summarized. The…

ChatGPT Ads

OpenAI Moves to Weekly Ad Budgeting

OpenAI is changing daily ad budgets to a 7-day average, allowing spend up to 2× the daily budget on some days while staying within the weekly limit. This may help…

Thanks for sharing Anthony Higman

Shared AI Chats Are Not Always Private

Privacy PSA: Some Claude shared chats and Artifacts were reportedly indexed by Google, making sensitive information publicly searchable. Researchers and journalists found exposed content that allegedly included medical records, internal…

ChatGPT Ads

OpenAI Tests Conversational Ads

The next generation of ads may not send you to a website. OpenAI is reportedly testing ads that launch a business-agent conversation inside ChatGPT, complete with product data, support information,…

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