Overview
- Labeled “sponsored” cards are embedded within the AI-generated response and visually resemble citation links.
- Early sightings show the ads placed at the bottom of the answer, which observers describe as part of placement tests to gauge engagement.
- The change is reaching some users in the stable build beyond Labs, with organic link cards still appearing above the new paid units.
- AI Mode has been free to all users for about a year, while Google One subscribers can access advanced models such as Gemini 3 Pro.
- Previous industry reporting pointed to a Q4 2025 introduction, after Google initially kept AI Mode largely ad‑free during its adoption phase.