Google Ads News
Google Ads API v22 sunsets on October 7
Google Ads API v22 stops working on October 7, 2026. From that date, all v22 requests will fail. If you or your tools run on the API, move to a newer version before then so your access is not interrupted.
Meridian GeoX for geo incrementality
Meridian GeoX is Google’s open-source, publisher-agnostic library for geo-based incrementality experiments, now globally available. It helps you measure which ads and channels cause real incremental lift, then feed those results into your Marketing Mix Model. You can test multiple tactics against a shared control and run faster, cheaper experiments through stratified sampling and time-based regression.
Popular Products report improved in Merchant Center
Google improved the Popular Products report in Merchant Center, with better coverage and insights. Introduced in late June 2026, it may change which products and brands show as popular and could shift rankings and coverage across regions. Data refreshes weekly, though some new metrics can take up to two weeks to appear. The updates also apply to the Merchant API and BigQuery.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová and Barry Schwartz.
AI Max keyword prioritization clarified
Google updated its AI Max documentation on how keyword prioritization works when you turn off broad match or move to AI Max. Broad match keywords are not automatically treated like exact match for prioritization. If you want that priority, add exact match copies of those keywords to the AI Max campaign. Converting broad match straight to exact match removes the historical keyword stats.
Spotted by Barry Schwartz.
Performance Max documentation gets a big update
Google rewrote large parts of its Performance Max documentation. It now explains more clearly how Search and PMax interact, including the priority given to exact match keywords and the role of Search themes. Brand exclusions, negative keywords, Search themes and keywordless targeting are grouped together as the controls you can use to steer reach. Budget guidance and Final URL Expansion are also explained in more detail.
Spotted by Shauvik Kumar and Barry Schwartz.
“What customers love” review summaries in Search ads
Google is testing an AI-generated “What customers love” section in sponsored search results, labeled as generated from store rating reviews. It summarizes themes from customer reviews inside the ad. A similar test appeared before under “What people are saying.” The aim is to make ads more informative without users leaving search.
Spotted by Barry Schwartz and Sachin Patel.
Conversion measurement docs updated for calls and offline
Google added guidance for phone call and offline conversions. For calls, enable call reporting and set the action to Primary, and note that calls are attributed to the date of the original click. For offline conversions, use Manual uploads or Other as the source rather than Website, match conversion names exactly, allow 24 to 48 hours of processing, and keep GCLIDs under 90 days old.
Spotted by Barry Schwartz.
AI performance insights expand beyond the US
Merchant Center’s AI performance insights are now available for English-language queries in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the US. The reports show how your brands and products appear across Google’s AI experiences, including AI Mode and AI Overviews, for conversational queries with shopping intent.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová and Barry Schwartz.
Dismissed recommendations are coming back
Google is getting more active with recommendations you already dismissed. You may now see notifications like “You still have dismissed recommendations for this campaign.” Dismissed recommendations reappearing is not new, but Google actively flagging them again is.
Spotted by Julie Friedman Bacchini and Barry Schwartz.
Waze Ads expand beyond the United States
Google is rolling out Waze Ads to more markets outside the US.
Spotted by Barry Schwartz.
Personalized alcohol ads on YouTube from October 30
Google will allow personalized alcohol ads on YouTube from October 30, 2026, where local laws permit. It covers alcohol, related products and alcohol alternatives. Age, sensitive-interest, geographic and local legal restrictions stay in place. Some countries, including Egypt, India, Indonesia and Poland, remain excluded.
Reapply your ROAS target with one button
Google is rolling out recommendations to reapply ROAS targets based on historical data, with an “Apply target” button. It can save time, but check it before you apply. Historical performance does not always match your current margins, budgets or growth goals. Treat it as a recommendation, not an automatic optimization.
Spotted by Bia Camargo and Hana Kobzová.
ChatGPT Ads are live and expanding
OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT Ads into markets across Europe, India, the Middle East and North Africa, and is building out the ad infrastructure behind it. Advertisers get more flexible custom-audience management, support for larger audiences and GAID identifiers, better conversion matching through the Measurement Pixel and Conversions API, and more detailed product-level reporting for carousel ads. A conversion-optimization model is on the way, billed by impression. There is also a ChatGPT Ads Manager plugin for creating and managing campaigns through natural language.
Spotted by Lars Friis.
App campaigns get product-level cost and conversions
Product-level reporting for App campaigns now includes Cost and Conversions. Before, you could only see impressions and clicks. You can now see which products drive installs and how much spend sits behind them.
Shopping ads appear inside AI Mode
Google is showing Shopping ads directly in AI Mode results. Two formats have been spotted so far: multi-product carousels and single-product sponsored units, with images, prices, ratings and product details. Google is also testing extra ads at the bottom of AI Mode results. Another push to monetize AI Mode.
Spotted by Barry Schwartz and Brodie Clark.
Klaviyo added as a customer data source
Google Ads added Klaviyo as a supported integration for both Offline Conversion Import and Customer Match. You can move first-party data from Klaviyo into Google Ads more directly, which cuts down on manual uploads.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Developer Policies update for security
Google is updating its Google Ads Developer Policies to strengthen security and account isolation. The main change is a move away from shared programmatic proxies toward a direct connection through your own dedicated Google Cloud project. Google says shared proxies can create risks like unauthorized access and cross-tenant data leaks. The Ads API Compliance team is reviewing existing integrations and will contact developers who need to change. The update was announced on August 31, 2026.
Spotted by Arpan Banerjee.
AI dashboard creation in beta
Google Ads is rolling out an AI-powered dashboard builder in beta. You describe the report or analysis you need in plain language and Google builds it. Useful for account summaries, conversion trends and Search campaign health. Availability varies by account for now.
Spotted by VIVEK GUPTA.
Choose between standard campaign group and video
Google is testing an option to choose between a standard campaign group and video during setup. Still a beta.
Spotted by VIVEK GUPTA.
OpenAI starts rolling out GPT-6 Astra
OpenAI began rolling out GPT-6 Astra, and this launch feels different from a normal upgrade. It is reportedly the first OpenAI model to reach the internal “Critical” cybersecurity threshold, so access is being introduced in phases. OpenAI points to gains in software engineering, computer use, professional work and multi-step tasks. The wider story is the shift from models that answer questions to systems that carry out work for you.
Google Tag Gateway is out of beta on Akamai and Fastly
Google Tag Gateway for Advertisers left beta on Akamai and Fastly, joining Cloudflare. The beta labels are gone from the setup docs. A small but meaningful step for first-party measurement.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Conversational campaign creation
Google is testing a feature where you give it a URL and your goals, and the AI builds the campaign for you. A clear step toward AI-first campaign management. Review everything before you launch, since it decides structure and settings on your behalf.
Spotted by Conor Crummey and Thomas Eccel.
Ads search history for custom search terms
Google now shows an ads search history for custom search terms in the interface. A small addition, but handy when you are reviewing which terms you have looked at.
Spotted by Arpan Banerjee.
Extra sitelinks shown as +2
Google is now showing the extra number of sitelinks as a +2 indicator in the interface.
Spotted by Arpan Banerjee.
ChatGPT shopping results lean on merchant feeds
There is evidence that ChatGPT’s product recommendations are increasingly sourced from merchant and brand product feeds, rather than Google Shopping or scraped pages. That matters because feed-based results may only show the retailer supplying the feed, not multiple sellers and prices. If you want visibility in ChatGPT shopping, make sure your product feeds are available to OpenAI.
Spotted by Juozas Kaziukėnas.
Top audiences shown as a hyperlink for videos
Google is now showing the top audience as a hyperlink for video campaigns in the interface.
Spotted by Arpan Banerjee.
Demand Gen prefill in testing
Google is testing prefill for Demand Gen campaigns, which fills parts of the setup for you when you create a campaign.
Spotted by Arpan Banerjee.
YouTube Creator Partnerships adds Reach metrics
YouTube Creator Partnerships now includes Reach metrics in the Analytics tab, including estimated unique viewers and co-viewers across devices. Unique reach is available for up to 92 days and can be split by week or month.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Bumper ads are now defined as 5 to 6 seconds
Google tightened the rules for YouTube bumper ads. They are now officially 5 to 6 seconds, instead of the old “6 seconds or shorter.” They stay non-skippable and can run before, during or after another video. Creatives shorter than 5 seconds may no longer fit the spec, so check your existing library.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Hotel Ads get granular location targeting
Hotel Ads campaigns can now target or exclude specific locations within a country, including regions, states, cities and postal codes. Before, targeting was limited to countries. Radius targeting is still not supported. This gives hotel advertisers more control over where the budget goes.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Automated promotions launches
Google Ads launched Automated promotions, a new account-level asset that scans your landing pages for active offers and builds promotion assets for eligible Search and PMax campaigns. It will not run on campaigns that already use manual promotion assets, and detected promotions are re-verified within 24 hours. You can opt out in the account-level automated asset settings.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Business Agent can be set up from Shopify
Google Business Agent can now be enabled directly from Shopify through the Google and YouTube app. The AI shopping assistant appears in Google Search and lets shoppers ask about a brand and its products. Setup imports your logo, brand colors and support details. Before, it could only be turned on through Merchant Center or your Search profile.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Google launches Pics for image creation and editing
Google launched Pics, an AI image creation and editing tool aimed at non-designers. You can generate options from a prompt, edit a single object without touching the rest of the image, and edit or translate text inside images while keeping fonts and layout. It works inside Google Docs and Slides and is rolling out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers and many Workspace business accounts.
ChatGPT Ads pre-opts advertisers into Text Customization
ChatGPT Ads is now pre-opting advertisers into Text Customization, which lets the system adjust ad text on your behalf. Check your settings if you do not want it on.
Spotted by Anthony Higman.
OpenAI’s ad business hits a $1 billion run rate
OpenAI’s ad business reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate. A signal of how fast this new channel is growing.
Payment settings renamed to Postpay and Prepay
Automatic payments are now called Postpay, and Manual payments are now Prepay. The wording is changing across billing screens and around 60 help pages. Nothing changes in how or when you are charged. Postpay means you accrue costs before being charged, Prepay means you add funds before ads run.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Lookalike segments come to Video campaigns
Lookalike segments now work in Video campaigns, after being limited to Demand Gen. You can use existing audience data to reach similar users through video. Google recommends a seed list of at least 1,000 active users and value-based data where available.
Spotted by Hana Kobzová.
Video Spark enters beta
Google launched Video Spark in beta, a new option in the video space.
Spotted by Arpan Banerjee.
AI Mode
Google is expanding ad placements within AI Mode, with Shopping carousel ads now appearing inline within AI-generated responses.
Google is also testing single-product ad units inline, along with additional ads at the bottom of AI Mode results.
The change gives advertisers more opportunities to appear directly within AI-powered search experiences and signals Google’s continued push to monetize AI Mode with more integrated ad formats.
Thanks for sharing Barry Schwartz & Brodie Clark.