Google plans to place ads in Gemini while OpenAI is already integrating them into ChatGPT

Google is preparing advertising in Gemini

Google’s leadership announced its intention to include ads in the Gemini app, abandoning its previous stance of “completely ad‑free.” This decision reflects the company’s desire to scale the service and monetize a growing user base.

Key details
When confirmation of readiness to place ads in Gemini was given: Q1 2026 conference. Philipp Schindler, Google’s Chief Commercial Officer (Philipp Schindler)
Schindler noted that if the ad format proves effective in “AI Mode Search” – an AI‑based search – it will also be applied to Gemini. Previously the company had been hesitant to introduce ads; now its position has changed.

Why Google is changing course
1. User value

Embedded advertising, according to Schindler, provides users with useful commercial information and helps develop products for billions of people.

2. AI‑service monetization strategy

An Adweek declaration in December already foreshadowed the appearance of ads in Gemini by 2026. Now it has become a logical step in the company’s overall strategy to monetize artificial intelligence.

3. Financial context

Despite having more than 350 million paid‑service subscribers, revenue from them may not cover the costs of a fully free chatbot. Competitors are already showing ads in free versions of their AI products (e.g., OpenAI with ChatGPT), and Google is likely to follow this trend to maintain Gemini’s economic sustainability.

Conclusion
Google has officially confirmed its readiness to integrate advertising into Gemini. This decision is tied to the need to monetize a growing AI product and keep it free amid high infrastructure costs and competition from OpenAI and other companies.