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Google Expands AdSense to Generative AI Chatbots as Antitrust Scrutiny Mounts

Google's AdSense now powers ads in third-party chatbot conversations, while regulators intensify focus on its advertising dominance following an antitrust violation ruling.

A sign is posted in front of a building on the Google campus on Jan. 31, 2022, in Mountain View, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/TNS)

Overview

  • Google has officially launched 'AdSense for Search' to include ads within AI chatbot conversations, partnering with startups like iAsk and Liner.
  • The move is part of Alphabet's strategy to maintain its digital advertising dominance as generative AI reshapes search and information discovery.
  • Generative AI startups, including Koah Labs and Perplexity AI, are adopting ad-based models to offset the high costs of providing AI-generated responses.
  • In April 2025, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws in advertising exchanges and ad servers, intensifying regulatory scrutiny.
  • Google Search ads generated $198 billion in revenue in 2024, accounting for nearly 60% of Alphabet's total revenue, highlighting the stakes of adapting its ad model for AI-driven platforms.