<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/ai-generated-answer.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="AI-generated answer" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/ai-generated-answer.png 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/ai-generated-answer-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>New UX testing shows AI Mode doesn’t kill high-value clicks. Users still visit websites when choosing doctors, dentists, and other services.

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/ai-generated-answer.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="AI-generated answer" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/ai-generated-answer.png 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/ai-generated-answer-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
<p>The narrative in SEO right now is simple: Google’s AI Mode doesn’t send traffic. If it becomes the default Google Search experience, your website will starve for clicks.</p>



<p>There’s one problem, though: the studies claiming “AI doesn’t send traffic” focus almost entirely on informational queries.</p>



<p>Yes, if someone wants to know what a basal cell carcinoma looks like, AI will kill that click.</p>



<p>But what happens when someone wants to find a dermatologist to check that mole?</p>



<p>No one has shared a study like that yet. So we decided to fix that.</p>



<p>We ran the first UX study focused specifically on <strong>transactional intent</strong> in AI mode. We watched 52 participants across the U.S. and Canada spend nearly 22 hours searching for high-involvement services.</p>



<p>This is what we learned.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-69-of-ai-mode-users-visited-a-website">1. 69% of AI Mode users visited a website</h2>



<p>When users were tasked with transactional searches (finding a dentist, botox provider, or dermatologist), <strong>69% of AI mode sessions resulted in a click to a website.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1145" height="1219" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/visits-to-website-vs-stayed-in-ai-mode.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-465609" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/visits-to-website-vs-stayed-in-ai-mode.jpg 1145w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/visits-to-website-vs-stayed-in-ai-mode-768x818.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1145px) 100vw, 1145px" /></figure>



<p>In our study, <strong>only 27% of users felt “ready to make a decision” based solely on the AI summary </strong>(the remaining 4% ended up visiting traditional Google Search and social media profiles to make a decision).</p>



<p>Users use AI Mode to create a consideration set, not to be told what they should do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-being-ranked-1-is-no-longer-winner-takes-all">2. Being ranked #1 is no longer &#8216;winner-takes-all&#8217;</h2>



<p>For 30 years, SEO has been a game where the No. 1 spot claimed most of the rewards.</p>



<p>AI Mode changes the rules of engagement; in our study, <strong>89% of participants clicked on more than one business.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1145" height="1219" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/number-of-businesses-checked-in-ai-mode.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-465610" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/number-of-businesses-checked-in-ai-mode.jpg 1145w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/number-of-businesses-checked-in-ai-mode-768x818.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1145px) 100vw, 1145px" /></figure>



<p>Users are not looking for a single recommendation; they are using AI to create a <strong>consideration set</strong>. On average, our participants checked <strong>3.7 results</strong> per session, with 1 in 10 users checking only one business.</p>



<p>This is a massive paradigm shift.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You no longer need to bleed resources chasing a single top spot. You need to fight to be in the “consideration set” – the top three to five results. If you’re in that set, you have a fighting chance.</p>



<p>Users will still click you, but they’ll likely also click your competitors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-16-of-users-relied-on-above-the-fold-content-to-decide">3. 16% of users relied on above-the-fold content to decide</h2>



<p>We have been trained to assume that users don’t scroll.</p>



<p>This is not the case with AI Mode users. <strong>84% of our participants scrolled down to view the consideration set.</strong></p>



<p>Because users treat AI results as a curated list rather than a single answer, they’re willing to explore. They dig through the list to find the best fit, <strong>not just the first one</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-photos-don-t-matter-much-but-reviews-are-everything">4. Photos don&#8217;t matter much (but reviews are everything)</h2>



<p><strong>Only 21% of users viewed photos attached to the Google Business Profile.</strong> Even for the Botox task, that number only rose to 24%.</p>



<p>So, what actually drives the click? Social proof.</p>



<p>74% of users read reviews on the Google Business Profile before making a decision.</p>



<p>In the AI interface, text carries more weight than images. Your flashy gallery is nice, but your reputation is what earns the click.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-verdict-ai-mode-won-t-take-all-of-your-traffic">The verdict: AI Mode won’t take <strong><em>all</em> of your traffic</strong></h2>



<p>Most importantly, AI Mode won’t take the most valuable traffic you have: <strong>traffic consisting of people who want to pay you.</strong></p>



<p>AI Mode will require a reframing of the goals of SEO:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Old goal:</strong> Rank #1 or die.</li>



<li><strong>New goal:</strong> Appear in the top 5 (the consideration set) and win the click with superior social proof (reviews).</li>
</ul>



<p>If your business relies on &#8220;how-to&#8221; traffic, yes, you should be worried. </p>



<p>However, if you’re a local business or service provider that benefits from local SEO, don&#8217;t panic.</p>



<p>The study: <a href="https://sagapixel.com/seo/ai-mode-transactional-searches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">69% of Transactional Searches in AI Mode Drive Traffic</a></p>



<p></p>


The narrative in SEO right now is simple: Google’s AI Mode doesn’t send traffic. If it becomes the default Google Search experience, your website will starve for clicks.
There’s one problem, though: the studies claiming “AI doesn’t send traffic” focus almost entirely on informational queries.
Yes, if someone wants to know what a basal cell carcinoma looks like, AI will kill that click.
But what happens when someone wants to find a dermatologist to check that mole?
No one has shared a study like that yet. So we decided to fix that.
We ran the first UX study focused specifically on transactional intent in AI mode. We watched 52 participants across the U.S. and Canada spend nearly 22 hours searching for high-involvement services.
This is what we learned.
1. 69% of AI Mode users visited a website
When users were tasked with transactional searches (finding a dentist, botox provider, or dermatologist), 69% of AI mode sessions resulted in a click to a website.




In our study, only 27% of users felt “ready to make a decision” based solely on the AI summary (the remaining 4% ended up visiting traditional Google Search and social media profiles to make a decision).
Users use AI Mode to create a consideration set, not to be told what they should do.
2. Being ranked #1 is no longer ‘winner-takes-all’
For 30 years, SEO has been a game where the No. 1 spot claimed most of the rewards.
AI Mode changes the rules of engagement; in our study, 89% of participants clicked on more than one business.




Users are not looking for a single recommendation; they are using AI to create a consideration set. On average, our participants checked 3.7 results per session, with 1 in 10 users checking only one business.
This is a massive paradigm shift. 
You no longer need to bleed resources chasing a single top spot. You need to fight to be in the “consideration set” – the top three to five results. If you’re in that set, you have a fighting chance.
Users will still click you, but they’ll likely also click your competitors.
3. 16% of users relied on above-the-fold content to decide
We have been trained to assume that users don’t scroll.
This is not the case with AI Mode users. 84% of our participants scrolled down to view the consideration set.
Because users treat AI results as a curated list rather than a single answer, they’re willing to explore. They dig through the list to find the best fit, not just the first one.
4. Photos don’t matter much (but reviews are everything)
Only 21% of users viewed photos attached to the Google Business Profile. Even for the Botox task, that number only rose to 24%.
So, what actually drives the click? Social proof.
74% of users read reviews on the Google Business Profile before making a decision.
In the AI interface, text carries more weight than images. Your flashy gallery is nice, but your reputation is what earns the click.
The verdict: AI Mode won’t take all of your traffic
Most importantly, AI Mode won’t take the most valuable traffic you have: traffic consisting of people who want to pay you.
AI Mode will require a reframing of the goals of SEO:
Old goal: Rank #1 or die.
New goal: Appear in the top 5 (the consideration set) and win the click with superior social proof (reviews).
If your business relies on “how-to” traffic, yes, you should be worried. 
However, if you’re a local business or service provider that benefits from local SEO, don’t panic.
The study: 69% of Transactional Searches in AI Mode Drive Traffic

New UX testing shows AI Mode doesn’t kill high-value clicks. Users still visit websites when choosing doctors, dentists, and other services.

Google AI Mode sends traffic on 69% of transactional queries: New data

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Rethinking Meta Ads AI and best practices for better results" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results.jpg 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>Meta’s latest research shows that Reels ads designed natively for the platform can significantly boost purchase intent, and brand interest.

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Rethinking Meta Ads AI and best practices for better results" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results.jpg 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/05/Rethinking-Meta-Ads-AI-and-best-practices-for-better-results-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
<p>Reels continue to surge as a go-to format for entertainment, education, and discovery. But Meta’s message to advertisers is clear: success requires native creative — not repurposed assets. Think 9:16 framing, platform-first audio, and rapid storytelling built for swipes, not scrolls.</p>



<p><strong>Brand advertiser takeaways (per Meta’s data):</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Show your brand early:</strong> Branding and messaging in the first 5 seconds makes ads 1.7x more likely to rank in the top purchase-intent tier.</li>



<li><strong>Use dynamic branding:</strong> Multiple brand appearances across scenes = 1.8x lift in top-tier purchase intent.</li>



<li><strong>Combine speech + music:</strong> Using both doubles the likelihood (2.0x) of landing in the top 20% for brand interest.</li>



<li><strong>Say it visually <em>and</em> audibly:</strong> Dual-channel messaging boosts brand interest 1.8x.</li>



<li><strong>Keep it relatable:</strong> Everyday “slice of life” moments improve purchase intent 1.5x.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Direct response advertiser takeaways</strong>:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Product > everything:</strong> Showing the product more than once lifts purchase intent 2.7x.</li>



<li><strong>Brand lightly:</strong> Featuring branding — but under 25% of the ad duration — drives a massive 4.8x lift in purchase intent.</li>



<li><strong>Add context:</strong> USPs, features, and benefit-driven messaging boost purchase intent 5.3x.</li>



<li><strong>Always include a CTA:</strong> Visual or audio CTAs drive a 1.9x lift.</li>



<li><strong>Pair speech + music:</strong> Again, high impact: 2.1x more likely to rank in the top tier.</li>



<li><strong>Use native elements:</strong> Emojis help DR creatives rank 2.5x higher.</li>



<li><strong>Open with a hook:</strong> Audio-visual hooks increase purchase intent 1.5x.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Why we care.</strong> Meta says Reels aren’t just dominant — they’re shaping the future of short-form storytelling, with over half of Instagram usage now spent on Reels and video time up more than 30% year over year. Meta’s research highlights that success on Reels requires native, platform-first creative: strong branding early, multiple product appearances, combined audio and speech, relatable moments, and clear CTAs all significantly boost results. </p>



<p>The key takeaway is that ads designed specifically for Reels—not repurposed content—drive the strongest outcomes, making structured testing and iterative creative strategy essential for advertisers looking to capture attention and sales on Instagram.</p>



<p><strong>Meta’s bottom line.</strong> Reels are here to stay — and high-performing ads look, sound, and behave like Reels, not traditional video spots. The more natively integrated the creative, the better the results.</p>



<p><strong>What’s next.</strong> Meta urges advertisers to build a structured “test and learn” program — including incrementality measurement and A/B testing — to see which format, message, and creative elements move the needle for their products. The mandate: iterate fast, validate what works, and refine relentlessly.</p>



<p><strong>The takeaway.</strong> The brands winning on Reels aren’t just making short videos. They’re designing for the medium. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/news/reels-creative-strategies">Meta’s new data</a> points the way — now it’s on advertisers to test, learn, and evolve their creative strategy to capture the full upside.</p>


Reels continue to surge as a go-to format for entertainment, education, and discovery. But Meta’s message to advertisers is clear: success requires native creative — not repurposed assets. Think 9:16 framing, platform-first audio, and rapid storytelling built for swipes, not scrolls.
Brand advertiser takeaways (per Meta’s data):
Show your brand early: Branding and messaging in the first 5 seconds makes ads 1.7x more likely to rank in the top purchase-intent tier.
Use dynamic branding: Multiple brand appearances across scenes = 1.8x lift in top-tier purchase intent.
Combine speech + music: Using both doubles the likelihood (2.0x) of landing in the top 20% for brand interest.
Say it visually and audibly: Dual-channel messaging boosts brand interest 1.8x.
Keep it relatable: Everyday “slice of life” moments improve purchase intent 1.5x.
Direct response advertiser takeaways:
Product > everything: Showing the product more than once lifts purchase intent 2.7x.
Brand lightly: Featuring branding — but under 25% of the ad duration — drives a massive 4.8x lift in purchase intent.
Add context: USPs, features, and benefit-driven messaging boost purchase intent 5.3x.
Always include a CTA: Visual or audio CTAs drive a 1.9x lift.
Pair speech + music: Again, high impact: 2.1x more likely to rank in the top tier.
Use native elements: Emojis help DR creatives rank 2.5x higher.
Open with a hook: Audio-visual hooks increase purchase intent 1.5x.
Why we care. Meta says Reels aren’t just dominant — they’re shaping the future of short-form storytelling, with over half of Instagram usage now spent on Reels and video time up more than 30% year over year. Meta’s research highlights that success on Reels requires native, platform-first creative: strong branding early, multiple product appearances, combined audio and speech, relatable moments, and clear CTAs all significantly boost results. 
The key takeaway is that ads designed specifically for Reels—not repurposed content—drive the strongest outcomes, making structured testing and iterative creative strategy essential for advertisers looking to capture attention and sales on Instagram.
Meta’s bottom line. Reels are here to stay — and high-performing ads look, sound, and behave like Reels, not traditional video spots. The more natively integrated the creative, the better the results.
What’s next. Meta urges advertisers to build a structured “test and learn” program — including incrementality measurement and A/B testing — to see which format, message, and creative elements move the needle for their products. The mandate: iterate fast, validate what works, and refine relentlessly.
The takeaway. The brands winning on Reels aren’t just making short videos. They’re designing for the medium. Meta’s new data points the way — now it’s on advertisers to test, learn, and evolve their creative strategy to capture the full upside.

Meta’s latest research shows that Reels ads designed natively for the platform can significantly boost purchase intent, and brand interest.

Meta: Native Reels ads can lift purchase intent 5.3x

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="AI Max for Search: Everything you need to know" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know.jpg 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>AI Max quietly turns all keywords into broad match and blurs reporting, making it harder for advertisers to see what’s really driving their results.

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="AI Max for Search: Everything you need to know" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know.jpg 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/10/AI-Max-for-Search-Everything-you-need-to-know-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
<p>A recent test run by the Adalysis team reveals that Google’s new AI Max setting is reshaping how search terms are matched and reported — creating blind spots for advertisers who rely on precise keyword control. </p>



<p><strong>When AI Max isn’t the right fit</strong>. AI Max isn’t inherently bad, but advertisers should think twice if:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Broad match historically underperforms in your account.</li>



<li>Your top exact/phrase match keywords are already constrained by budget.</li>



<li>You prefer not to use text customization or Final URL expansion — both built-in components of AI Max.</li>
</ul>



<p>If you only need broad match, you can add those keywords manually and keep full control.</p>



<p><strong>How AI Max interacts with your keywords.</strong> The Adalysis test shows that if your campaign doesn’t include a broad match version of a keyword, AI Max effectively acts as if it does — and Google assigns impressions, clicks, and cost to your existing keywords. </p>



<p>This blurs match-type reporting and can give AI Max credit for traffic your exact and phrase match terms were already earning. </p>



<p>The recommended fix: add broad match versions of your core keywords to restore clean reporting.</p>



<p><strong>The search-term reporting problem</strong>. When search terms were reviewed under AI Max, consistent issues were found: brand terms matching to non-brand queries, non-brand terms matching to competitors, and occasionally brand queries matching to competitor terms. </p>



<p>Brand filters help but misspellings and variants still leak through, so strong negative keyword lists remain essential.</p>



<p><strong>AI Max isn’t always finding new searches.</strong> Often, AI Max isn’t discovering new queries — it’s simply taking credit for your existing ones. It can even override Google’s normal matching hierarchy, assigning impressions to AI Max instead of identical keywords in more relevant ad groups.</p>



<p>That’s partly why its performance metrics look artificially strong.</p>



<p><strong>The mystery bucket</strong>. The team also found AI Max search terms that don’t map to any keyword in the account — unrelated to landing page content or past searches. This may tie to Google’s keywordless technology, but Google hasn’t confirmed. </p>



<p>To get an accurate view of AI Max’s impact, Adalysis recommends de-duplicating search terms across match types to separate true incremental performance from reassigned results.</p>



<p><strong>Google’s priority order — in theory.</strong> Google says exact match should win when the search term is identical. In practice, the Adalysis test showed AI Max sometimes overriding this logic, forcing advertisers to add even misspellings and close variants as exact match to protect high-value queries.</p>



<p><strong>Why we care.</strong> This test shows that AI Max can quietly override match types, reassign performance, and blur reporting — making it hard to understand what’s actually driving results. If you can’t trust which keywords triggered which queries, you can’t optimize budgets, protect brand traffic, or measure true incremental performance.</p>



<p><strong>The bottom line</strong>. <a href="https://adalysis.com/blog/ai-max-search-term-reporting/">Adalysis’ testing</a> confirms that while AI Max can help scale campaigns, its reporting structure can inflate perceived performance by reallocating impressions from exact and phrase match. </p>



<p>If you’re using or testing AI Max, add broad match versions of all keywords, separate brand/non-brand/competitor traffic with strong negatives, keep adding your top queries as exact match, and monitor for duplicated or misrouted search terms. </p>



<p>Even in the AI era, search-term management remains critical to ensuring your budget flows to the queries that actually perform.</p>



<p><strong>Dig Deeper. </strong>Interesting reads about AI Max:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://searchengineland.com/ai-max-for-search-everything-you-need-to-know-462923" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI Max for Search: Everything you need to know</a></li>



<li><a href="https://searchengineland.com/how-to-tell-if-googles-ai-max-for-search-is-actually-working-464916" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to tell if Google&#8217;s AI Max for search is actually working</a></li>



<li><a href="https://searchengineland.com/testing-ai-max-google-ads-when-456464" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Testing AI Max in Google Ads: When to try it and when to wait</a></li>



<li><a href="https://searchengineland.com/ai-max-early-case-studies-analysis-script-462706" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI Max in action: What early case studies and a new analysis script &#8230;</a></li>



<li><a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-ai-max-pitch-advertisers-462128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google doubles down on AI Max pitch to wary advertisers</a></li>



<li><a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-ai-max-search-spotted-456195" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Ads begins rolling out AI Max for Search</a></li>
</ul>


A recent test run by the Adalysis team reveals that Google’s new AI Max setting is reshaping how search terms are matched and reported — creating blind spots for advertisers who rely on precise keyword control. 
When AI Max isn’t the right fit. AI Max isn’t inherently bad, but advertisers should think twice if:
Broad match historically underperforms in your account.
Your top exact/phrase match keywords are already constrained by budget.
You prefer not to use text customization or Final URL expansion — both built-in components of AI Max.
If you only need broad match, you can add those keywords manually and keep full control.
How AI Max interacts with your keywords. The Adalysis test shows that if your campaign doesn’t include a broad match version of a keyword, AI Max effectively acts as if it does — and Google assigns impressions, clicks, and cost to your existing keywords. 
This blurs match-type reporting and can give AI Max credit for traffic your exact and phrase match terms were already earning. 
The recommended fix: add broad match versions of your core keywords to restore clean reporting.
The search-term reporting problem. When search terms were reviewed under AI Max, consistent issues were found: brand terms matching to non-brand queries, non-brand terms matching to competitors, and occasionally brand queries matching to competitor terms. 
Brand filters help but misspellings and variants still leak through, so strong negative keyword lists remain essential.
AI Max isn’t always finding new searches. Often, AI Max isn’t discovering new queries — it’s simply taking credit for your existing ones. It can even override Google’s normal matching hierarchy, assigning impressions to AI Max instead of identical keywords in more relevant ad groups.
That’s partly why its performance metrics look artificially strong.
The mystery bucket. The team also found AI Max search terms that don’t map to any keyword in the account — unrelated to landing page content or past searches. This may tie to Google’s keywordless technology, but Google hasn’t confirmed. 
To get an accurate view of AI Max’s impact, Adalysis recommends de-duplicating search terms across match types to separate true incremental performance from reassigned results.
Google’s priority order — in theory. Google says exact match should win when the search term is identical. In practice, the Adalysis test showed AI Max sometimes overriding this logic, forcing advertisers to add even misspellings and close variants as exact match to protect high-value queries.
Why we care. This test shows that AI Max can quietly override match types, reassign performance, and blur reporting — making it hard to understand what’s actually driving results. If you can’t trust which keywords triggered which queries, you can’t optimize budgets, protect brand traffic, or measure true incremental performance.
The bottom line. Adalysis’ testing confirms that while AI Max can help scale campaigns, its reporting structure can inflate perceived performance by reallocating impressions from exact and phrase match. 
If you’re using or testing AI Max, add broad match versions of all keywords, separate brand/non-brand/competitor traffic with strong negatives, keep adding your top queries as exact match, and monitor for duplicated or misrouted search terms. 
Even in the AI era, search-term management remains critical to ensuring your budget flows to the queries that actually perform.
Dig Deeper. Interesting reads about AI Max:
AI Max for Search: Everything you need to know
How to tell if Google’s AI Max for search is actually working
Testing AI Max in Google Ads: When to try it and when to wait
AI Max in action: What early case studies and a new analysis script …
Google doubles down on AI Max pitch to wary advertisers
Google Ads begins rolling out AI Max for Search

AI Max quietly turns all keywords into broad match and blurs reporting, making it harder for advertisers to see what’s really driving their results.

AI Max undermines match-type control

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-800x450.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-800x450.jpg 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-600x338.jpg 600w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-200x113.jpg 200w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-150x84.jpg 150w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-550x310.jpg 550w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>It does feel like AI Mode will be Google's default search experience sometime in the future.

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-800x450.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-800x450.jpg 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-600x338.jpg 600w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-200x113.jpg 200w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-150x84.jpg 150w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920-550x310.jpg 550w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2019/12/google-search-bar-stock-1920.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>
<p>Google has <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-bar-upload-image-file-ai-mode-40534.html">changed</a> its search bar on the Google home page by adding the ability to upload a file or an image, and then the user experience takes you directly to AI Mode. </p>



<p>This is different from uploading an image and Google taking you to Google Search with image results and Google Lens features. Instead, this upload feature takes you into the AI Mode experience.</p>



<p><strong>What it looks like. </strong>Here is a video I made of the searcher&#8217;s flow:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/google-search-file-upload-ai-mode.mov"></video></figure>



<p><strong>More AI Mode. </strong>Google continues to push searchers away from Google Search&#8217;s traditional search results, including AI Overviews, and directly into AI Mode.  This includes Google most recently <a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-tests-pushing-searchers-from-ai-overviews-show-more-button-to-ai-mode-465523">pushing searchers from AI Overviews into AI Mode</a>, adding AI Mode to the <a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-ai-mode-coming-to-chrome-browser-462220">Chrome</a> omnibox, having the AI Mode tab always <a href="https://searchengineland.com/why-google-the-ai-mode-tab-is-always-on-the-left-455878">on the left</a> and many more examples.</p>



<p>We once reported that Google would make <a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-ai-mode-may-become-the-default-google-search-experience-soon-461649">AI Mode the default search experience</a>, but Google told us no, we were wrong. It does seem like this is indeed the direction Google is headed.</p>



<p><strong>Why we care. </strong>Again, if Google AI Mode is the place Google sends searchers to, that experience is very different than the normal search results on Google.com.  Searchers are less likely to click from the AI Mode result than the traditional Google Search results.</p>



<p>So make sure to check out how you rank and are cited within AI Mode and set your expectations for that new experience.</p>


Google has changed its search bar on the Google home page by adding the ability to upload a file or an image, and then the user experience takes you directly to AI Mode. 
This is different from uploading an image and Google taking you to Google Search with image results and Google Lens features. Instead, this upload feature takes you into the AI Mode experience.
What it looks like. Here is a video I made of the searcher’s flow:




More AI Mode. Google continues to push searchers away from Google Search’s traditional search results, including AI Overviews, and directly into AI Mode.  This includes Google most recently pushing searchers from AI Overviews into AI Mode, adding AI Mode to the Chrome omnibox, having the AI Mode tab always on the left and many more examples.
We once reported that Google would make AI Mode the default search experience, but Google told us no, we were wrong. It does seem like this is indeed the direction Google is headed.
Why we care. Again, if Google AI Mode is the place Google sends searchers to, that experience is very different than the normal search results on Google.com.  Searchers are less likely to click from the AI Mode result than the traditional Google Search results.
So make sure to check out how you rank and are cited within AI Mode and set your expectations for that new experience.

It does feel like AI Mode will be Google's default search experience sometime in the future.

Google home page search bar upload feature goes directly to AI Mode results

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Google-Daily-Hub-Anatomy-of-an-overambitious-system-shaping-the-future-of-search.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Google Daily Hub- Anatomy of an overambitious system shaping the future of search" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Google-Daily-Hub-Anatomy-of-an-overambitious-system-shaping-the-future-of-search.png 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Google-Daily-Hub-Anatomy-of-an-overambitious-system-shaping-the-future-of-search-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Google-Daily-Hub-Anatomy-of-an-overambitious-system-shaping-the-future-of-search-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>Daily Hub tried to merge embeddings, entities, and real-time context – and buckled under the system’s complexity.

Daily Hub tried to merge embeddings, entities, and real-time context – and buckled under the system’s complexity.

Google Daily Hub: Anatomy of an overambitious system shaping the future of search

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="How to plan and manage paid media budgets in an AI-driven world" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world.png 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>Plan smarter budgets across channels, adjust to sudden changes, and make confident choices about where and how you spend.

<div><img width="1920" height="1080" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="How to plan and manage paid media budgets in an AI-driven world" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world.png 1920w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/How-to-plan-and-manage-paid-media-budgets-in-an-AI-driven-world-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
<p>Managing budgets across multiple paid media channels is one of the most important skills in a <a href="https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-paid-search">PPC</a> marketer’s toolkit.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You’re constantly deciding how to allocate spend across channels and campaigns, how to handle big budget swings, and whether to set total or daily budgets.</p>



<p>In an AI-driven ad platform world, campaign budgets remain one of the few levers marketers still fully control – and they deserve careful thought.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structuring-your-budget-effectively">Structuring your budget effectively</h2>



<p>Depending on your business model, you may have more or less input into the overall paid media budget.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, you usually have more control over how that budget gets broken out across channels and campaigns.</p>



<p>Start by looking at the total budget you have to work with.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s unwise to split a small budget across too many campaigns, as you’ll limit the platforms’ ability to learn and gather enough data to drive efficient results.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But with a larger budget, you can start segmenting out portions for testing channels or campaign types you haven’t run before.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong><em>Dig deeper: <a href="https://searchengineland.com/ppc-budget-planning-aligning-business-goals-ad-spend-performance-458150">PPC budget planning: Aligning business goals, ad spend, and performance</a></em></strong></p>



<p>For example, if you’ve only been active in paid search and are already maxing out opportunities there, and the brand has additional budget, consider allocating some of it to Google <a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-demand-gen-campaigns-migration-and-best-practices-433014">Demand Gen</a> or social channels to see how performance compares.</p>



<p>Next, think through the brand’s current level of awareness.</p>



<p>If it’s still building credibility, putting more budget toward social prospecting may help increase visibility and build audiences you can later retarget.</p>



<p>Assess your ability to support campaign types that require creative assets.</p>



<p>If obtaining or approving creative is difficult, keeping more budget in paid search may be the smarter move so you can get a campaign live more easily, while earmarking budget for additional channels once assets are ready.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-budget-decisions-across-channels">Connecting budget decisions across channels</h2>



<p>When deciding on budget allocations, avoid viewing individual channels or campaign types in isolation.</p>



<p>Consider how each one may be affecting the others, and use data when you can to guide those decisions.</p>



<p>For example, you may see a higher conversion rate from search after launching a YouTube campaign that helps drive awareness for your products, along with video viewer remarketing audiences performing efficiently in search.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You may not see many direct conversions from the YouTube campaign, but if the data shows it’s improving overall conversion efficiency, it makes sense to keep budget allocated to both YouTube and search.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aligning-your-budget-with-seasonal-demand">Aligning your budget with seasonal demand</h2>



<p>When mapping out budgets over the course of a year, consider when peak buying times are and when interest may slump for the industry you’re dealing with.&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>For ecommerce brands, the weeks leading up to a holiday season are generally an obvious time to allow for higher budgets.</li>



<li>B2B brands may see less activity in this timeframe and want to slot more budget earlier in the year.</li>
</ul>



<p>To make decisions on this front, look at historical data if you have it, and don’t forget to compare how performance may vary between channels at different times.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You can also use tools such as Google Trends and Keyword Planner to view historical and projected trends by month for relevant keyword themes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-responding-to-sudden-budget-shifts">Responding to sudden budget shifts</h2>



<p>Inevitably, you’ll deal with sudden requests to adjust budget that are outside your control.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A business may be facing financial difficulties and decide to scale back marketing, or it may be closing out its fiscal year and discover additional money that needs to be spent quickly.</p>



<p>When you need to scale back, avoid spreading a smaller amount across too many campaigns, and pause campaigns altogether if necessary, rather than trying to keep everything running with low budgets. </p>



<p>If search is involved, look for higher CPA keywords. You can pause while pulling back, possibly using a stricter threshold than you would with a larger budget.</p>



<p>When you have the opportunity to increase budget, think through which campaigns should receive it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Prioritize campaigns that are currently limited by budget – confirming this with recent spend data rather than relying only on Google’s flag – and that have shown efficient conversion performance.</p>



<p><strong><em>Dig deeper: <a href="https://searchengineland.com/manage-paid-media-budget-allocation-risk-scaling-446401">How to manage a paid media budget: Allocation, risk and scaling</a></em></strong></p>



<p>Be cautious about increasing budget too quickly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In search, especially when using broad keywords, you may see looser matches as the system adjusts to having more to spend.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In Meta, particularly with broad prospecting audiences, large increases can create a period of inefficiency as the system expands reach.</p>



<p>Depending on the amount of budget and how quickly it needs to be spent, don’t limit yourself to increasing spend in existing campaigns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additional budget may be an opportunity to test new channels or campaign types and bring these ideas to stakeholders.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Set clear expectations for KPIs, since results may not be as efficient as existing campaigns during testing, but may still drive incremental conversions you wouldn’t have captured otherwise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choosing-the-right-budget-type">Choosing the right budget type</h2>



<p>Many ad platforms let you set either a total budget for the full duration of a campaign or a daily budget that reflects the amount you want to spend each day.</p>



<p>As Google rolls out <a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-rolls-out-total-campaign-budgets-for-pmax-beyond-the-u-s-464682">total budgets to more campaign types,</a> this choice will come up more often when you’re setting up new campaigns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Meta, LinkedIn, and other social platforms also offer both options.</p>



<p>Total budgets generally work best for short-duration campaigns or when you have a strict budget cap and need to avoid overspending.</p>



<p>For campaigns running over a longer period, daily budgets tend to work best.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Still, monitor for periods when excess spend may occur, and watch for overspending when you increase budgets mid-month.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Google can spend up to two times your daily budget and will average it out over the month.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Meta can also spend up to two times your daily budget while averaging spend across a seven-day period.</p>



<p><strong><em>Dig deeper: <a href="https://searchengineland.com/how-to-optimize-b2b-ppc-spend-when-budgets-and-confidence-are-low-454592">How to optimize B2B PPC spend when budgets and confidence are low</a></em></strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-your-budget-strategy-into-practice">Putting your budget strategy into practice</h2>



<p>As you plan and monitor budgets for your paid media campaigns, think through how you can portion out spend for both ongoing efforts and testing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>View your budgets holistically as a multichannel effort rather than treating them as siloed across platforms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And take platform nuances into account when making major budget adjustments or choosing between budget types.</p>



<p></p>

Managing budgets across multiple paid media channels is one of the most important skills in a PPC marketer’s toolkit. 
You’re constantly deciding how to allocate spend across channels and campaigns, how to handle big budget swings, and whether to set total or daily budgets.
In an AI-driven ad platform world, campaign budgets remain one of the few levers marketers still fully control – and they deserve careful thought. 
Structuring your budget effectively
Depending on your business model, you may have more or less input into the overall paid media budget. 
However, you usually have more control over how that budget gets broken out across channels and campaigns.
Start by looking at the total budget you have to work with. 
It’s unwise to split a small budget across too many campaigns, as you’ll limit the platforms’ ability to learn and gather enough data to drive efficient results. 
But with a larger budget, you can start segmenting out portions for testing channels or campaign types you haven’t run before. 
Dig deeper: PPC budget planning: Aligning business goals, ad spend, and performance
For example, if you’ve only been active in paid search and are already maxing out opportunities there, and the brand has additional budget, consider allocating some of it to Google Demand Gen or social channels to see how performance compares.
Next, think through the brand’s current level of awareness.
If it’s still building credibility, putting more budget toward social prospecting may help increase visibility and build audiences you can later retarget.
Assess your ability to support campaign types that require creative assets.
If obtaining or approving creative is difficult, keeping more budget in paid search may be the smarter move so you can get a campaign live more easily, while earmarking budget for additional channels once assets are ready.
Connecting budget decisions across channels
When deciding on budget allocations, avoid viewing individual channels or campaign types in isolation.
Consider how each one may be affecting the others, and use data when you can to guide those decisions.
For example, you may see a higher conversion rate from search after launching a YouTube campaign that helps drive awareness for your products, along with video viewer remarketing audiences performing efficiently in search. 
You may not see many direct conversions from the YouTube campaign, but if the data shows it’s improving overall conversion efficiency, it makes sense to keep budget allocated to both YouTube and search.
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See terms.
Aligning your budget with seasonal demand
When mapping out budgets over the course of a year, consider when peak buying times are and when interest may slump for the industry you’re dealing with. 
For ecommerce brands, the weeks leading up to a holiday season are generally an obvious time to allow for higher budgets.
B2B brands may see less activity in this timeframe and want to slot more budget earlier in the year.
To make decisions on this front, look at historical data if you have it, and don’t forget to compare how performance may vary between channels at different times. 
You can also use tools such as Google Trends and Keyword Planner to view historical and projected trends by month for relevant keyword themes.
Responding to sudden budget shifts
Inevitably, you’ll deal with sudden requests to adjust budget that are outside your control. 
A business may be facing financial difficulties and decide to scale back marketing, or it may be closing out its fiscal year and discover additional money that needs to be spent quickly.
When you need to scale back, avoid spreading a smaller amount across too many campaigns, and pause campaigns altogether if necessary, rather than trying to keep everything running with low budgets. 
If search is involved, look for higher CPA keywords. You can pause while pulling back, possibly using a stricter threshold than you would with a larger budget.
When you have the opportunity to increase budget, think through which campaigns should receive it. 
Prioritize campaigns that are currently limited by budget – confirming this with recent spend data rather than relying only on Google’s flag – and that have shown efficient conversion performance.
Dig deeper: How to manage a paid media budget: Allocation, risk and scaling
Be cautious about increasing budget too quickly. 
In search, especially when using broad keywords, you may see looser matches as the system adjusts to having more to spend. 
In Meta, particularly with broad prospecting audiences, large increases can create a period of inefficiency as the system expands reach.
Depending on the amount of budget and how quickly it needs to be spent, don’t limit yourself to increasing spend in existing campaigns. 
Additional budget may be an opportunity to test new channels or campaign types and bring these ideas to stakeholders. 
Set clear expectations for KPIs, since results may not be as efficient as existing campaigns during testing, but may still drive incremental conversions you wouldn’t have captured otherwise.
Choosing the right budget type
Many ad platforms let you set either a total budget for the full duration of a campaign or a daily budget that reflects the amount you want to spend each day.
As Google rolls out total budgets to more campaign types, this choice will come up more often when you’re setting up new campaigns. 
Meta, LinkedIn, and other social platforms also offer both options.
Total budgets generally work best for short-duration campaigns or when you have a strict budget cap and need to avoid overspending.
For campaigns running over a longer period, daily budgets tend to work best. 
Still, monitor for periods when excess spend may occur, and watch for overspending when you increase budgets mid-month. 
Google can spend up to two times your daily budget and will average it out over the month. 
Meta can also spend up to two times your daily budget while averaging spend across a seven-day period.
Dig deeper: How to optimize B2B PPC spend when budgets and confidence are low
Putting your budget strategy into practice
As you plan and monitor budgets for your paid media campaigns, think through how you can portion out spend for both ongoing efforts and testing. 
View your budgets holistically as a multichannel effort rather than treating them as siloed across platforms. 
And take platform nuances into account when making major budget adjustments or choosing between budget types.

Plan smarter budgets across channels, adjust to sudden changes, and make confident choices about where and how you spend.

How to plan and manage paid media budgets in an AI-driven world

<div><img width="2048" height="1152" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></div>Ad position is critical. New data reveals how Google AI Overviews affect paid search visibility and CTR.

<div><img width="2048" height="1152" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></div><div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2048" height="1152" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-465261" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-768x432.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-header-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure></div>


<p>Google’s AI Overviews have reshaped search almost overnight. For paid search marketers, the fight for above-the-fold visibility is no longer just about ad rank – it’s now a push to appear above the AI result itself.</p>



<p>This shift follows the rapid surge in AI Overviews that Adthena highlighted in our <a href="https://www.adthena.com/resources/blog/how-googles-ai-overviews-are-accelerating-change-in-paid-search/" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored nofollow">previous study</a>. That analysis showed AI Overviews quickly moving beyond informational queries and into shorter, high-volume commercial searches.</p>



<p>The mechanism behind this decline is clear: AI Overviews intercept attention, cut click-through rates (CTRs), and push both organic and paid listings lower on the page. The result: fewer clicks and less revenue.</p>



<p>Adthena’s new research pinpoints how often advertisers win ad placement above AI Overviews across seven major industries, device types, and query categories. The findings reveal clear winners and uncover opportunities that paid search teams can act on now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-topline-reality-ad-position-visibility-is-lost-25-of-the-time">The topline reality: Ad position visibility is lost 25% of the time</h2>



<p>The summary table below offers a crucial industry benchmark for the battle over the top spot, showing the percentage split of ads appearing above or below AI Overviews across seven industries.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2048" height="1130" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-1-scaled.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465262" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-1-scaled.png 2048w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-1-768x424.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-1-1536x847.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-implications-from-the-topline-data">Strategic implications from the topline data</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>The leaders:</strong> Industries like Travel, Energy, Financial Services, and Retail consistently land above the AI Overviews in more than 75% of appearances. That still means 1 in 4 paid ads are affected by AI Overviews across major sectors. For keywords that drive millions in revenue, this 20% to 30% exposure creates immediate, high-cost instability that directly threatens ROI.</li>



<li><strong>The runners-up (the risk of being hidden):</strong> Healthcare stands out as the clear outlier, with ads appearing below the AI Overviews 64.6% of the time. Because healthcare searches are high-stakes and research-heavy, Google’s AI tends to dominate the SERP to deliver “expert” information first. That choice severely limits ad visibility and wipes out nearly two-thirds of the new above-the-fold space.</li>



<li><strong>The volatility:</strong> Gaming shows a clean 50/50 split. In this vertical, visibility becomes a coin flip, reinforcing the need for highly dynamic bidding strategies.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-device-divide-why-mobile-is-your-biggest-threat">The device divide: Why mobile is your biggest threat</h2>



<p>Device Split data over a snapshot one-week period reveals that the risk of ads being pushed below the AI Overviews is heavily exacerbated by the mobile environment, where SERP real estate is severely compressed.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2048" height="1119" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-2-scaled.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465263" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-2-scaled.png 2048w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-2-768x420.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-2-1536x839.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-implications-on-device-differences">Strategic implications on device differences</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Automotive&#8217;s Mobile Problem:</strong> While Automotive shows a solid overall “Above %” rate, the daily trends tell a different story. On mobile, ads are pushed below the AI Overviews nearly half the time. And on a small screen, an ad buried under a long AI Overview is often invisible without a full scroll. That drop in placement leads to lower visibility and CTR.</li>



<li><strong>The &#8220;double whammy&#8221;:</strong> For industries like healthcare, desktop ads sit below the AI Overviews most of the time, while mobile performs slightly better. This suggests the AI Overviews box may be tuned for mobile screens in a way that occasionally leaves one or two ad slots visible, but the desktop view is still dominated by AI. Marketers need to tailor their creative to the narrow window of opportunity available on the mobile SERP.</li>



<li><strong>Actionable insight:</strong> Mobile is where the disruption from AI Overviews hits hardest. For industries like healthcare and gaming, where the mobile “Below %” rate is disproportionately high, securing top ad rank becomes a matter of screen survival.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-query-intent-test-where-does-ai-overviews-win-and-lose">The query intent test: Where does AI Overviews win and lose?</h2>



<p>In general, long queries (high word count) tend to be informational and more likely to trigger AI Overviews. Short queries (low word count) are usually transactional. The table below, however, exposes a counterintuitive industry pattern.</p>



<p>This table shows the relationship between query complexity (user intent) and AI Overviews dominance across query lengths from one to 10 words.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2048" height="1411" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-3-scaled.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465264" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-3-scaled.png 2048w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-3-768x529.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/11/Adthena-20251203-3-1536x1058.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure></div>


<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-implications-on-query-intent">Strategic implications on query intent</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>AI Overviews dominance on the fringes:</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Healthcare</strong> shows a clear pattern: as queries become longer (10 words), the ad&#8217;s position above the AI Overviews drops to 0.0%. This confirms that Google views complex health-related questions, pushing all commercial intent below the scroll.</li>



<li><strong>Gaming</strong> is the opposite: short terms (1-2 words) see 0.0% visibility above the AI Overviews, suggesting a SERP feature (like a pack or video) or a strong organic result is claiming the top spot, forcing the ad below the AI Overviews. However, on long terms (Word Count 7-9), ads take 100% of the above-AI Overviews space. This is a massive opportunity to intercept users in the deep research phase.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>The unexpected paid search opportunity (Automotive &amp; Travel):</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>In industries like Automotive and Travel, ads actually perform better on longer, more informational queries than on short, high-volume terms. For Automotive, the &#8220;Ad Above AI Overviews&#8221; rate jumps from 21.9% (1 word) to over 74% (4 words).</li>



<li><strong>Strategic implication:</strong> This challenges the traditional PPC strategy. Instead of avoiding informational keywords where AI Overviews are present, paid marketers should be aggressively bidding on these mid-to-upper-funnel queries, as the ad position relative to the AI Overviews is highly favorable, allowing them to intercept the user’s journey before a final decision is made.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-paid-search-marketers">Next steps for paid search marketers</h2>



<p>Adthena&#8217;s study confirms the Google AI Overviews threat is segmented. The best strategy is precision: know when and where your ads beat the AI Overviews position and adjust bids and creative.</p>



<p>While this is still early data, as AI Overviews frequency continues to increase, this percentage of ad position might change. We recommend you regularly audit profitable keywords to proactively manage visibility in the changing AI search landscape.</p>



<p>Here are three critical, actionable next steps for paid search marketers:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-have-you-explored-testing-a-device-specific-strategy">1. Have you explored testing a device-specific strategy?</h3>



<p>The data shows that mobile devices often magnify visibility loss from AI Overviews, especially in categories like automotive.</p>



<p>Consider testing a device-specific campaign strategy, particularly for campaigns hit hardest by AI Overviews cutting into ad visibility.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-have-you-identified-quick-wins-in-keyword-coverage">2. Have you identified quick wins in keyword coverage?</h3>



<p>The word count data reveals some counterintuitive opportunities. In industries like Gaming and Automotive, long-tail informational queries (four or more words) are where ads often secure strong placement above the AI Overviews.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That means there may be high-visibility traffic in mid- to upper-funnel searches that your competitors are overlooking.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-have-you-reviewed-your-ad-copy-against-the-ai-answer">3. Have you reviewed your ad copy against the AI answer?</h3>



<p>AI Overviews often miss brand nuances and emotional cues.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To earn the click, your ad must do what the AI cannot: give users a clear, compelling, and urgent reason to leave Google’s summary and choose you. Messaging that highlights trust, guarantees, or speed can break through AI’s generic tone.</p>



<p>Focus your copy on transactional hooks such as deals, free shipping, limited-time offers, or scarcity (“12 hours left to buy”). Build trust and emotion with human-centered elements like customer service, testimonials, and your unique brand story.</p>



<p>The SERP has changed. The data shows that marketers who gain real-time, granular visibility into their ad position relative to AI Overviews –&nbsp;and act on it –&nbsp;will be the ones who succeed in this new paid search landscape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ready-to-see-where-your-ads-sit-today">Ready to see where your ads sit today?</h2>



<p>Adthena shows exactly when your ads appear above or below AI Overviews, so you can stay ahead of how AI Search is disrupting performance. <a href="https://www.adthena.com/book-a-meeting/?utm_campaign=7109214-FY25.3rd.Party.Articles&amp;utm_source=SEL&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_term=AIOs%20study%203%20Dec" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored nofollow">Book a demo</a> to see where you stand on the SERP.</p>


Google’s AI Overviews have reshaped search almost overnight. For paid search marketers, the fight for above-the-fold visibility is no longer just about ad rank – it’s now a push to appear above the AI result itself.
This shift follows the rapid surge in AI Overviews that Adthena highlighted in our previous study. That analysis showed AI Overviews quickly moving beyond informational queries and into shorter, high-volume commercial searches.
The mechanism behind this decline is clear: AI Overviews intercept attention, cut click-through rates (CTRs), and push both organic and paid listings lower on the page. The result: fewer clicks and less revenue.
Adthena’s new research pinpoints how often advertisers win ad placement above AI Overviews across seven major industries, device types, and query categories. The findings reveal clear winners and uncover opportunities that paid search teams can act on now.
The topline reality: Ad position visibility is lost 25% of the time
The summary table below offers a crucial industry benchmark for the battle over the top spot, showing the percentage split of ads appearing above or below AI Overviews across seven industries.

Strategic implications from the topline data
The leaders: Industries like Travel, Energy, Financial Services, and Retail consistently land above the AI Overviews in more than 75% of appearances. That still means 1 in 4 paid ads are affected by AI Overviews across major sectors. For keywords that drive millions in revenue, this 20% to 30% exposure creates immediate, high-cost instability that directly threatens ROI.
The runners-up (the risk of being hidden): Healthcare stands out as the clear outlier, with ads appearing below the AI Overviews 64.6% of the time. Because healthcare searches are high-stakes and research-heavy, Google’s AI tends to dominate the SERP to deliver “expert” information first. That choice severely limits ad visibility and wipes out nearly two-thirds of the new above-the-fold space.
The volatility: Gaming shows a clean 50/50 split. In this vertical, visibility becomes a coin flip, reinforcing the need for highly dynamic bidding strategies.
The device divide: Why mobile is your biggest threat
Device Split data over a snapshot one-week period reveals that the risk of ads being pushed below the AI Overviews is heavily exacerbated by the mobile environment, where SERP real estate is severely compressed.

Strategic implications on device differences
Automotive’s Mobile Problem: While Automotive shows a solid overall “Above %” rate, the daily trends tell a different story. On mobile, ads are pushed below the AI Overviews nearly half the time. And on a small screen, an ad buried under a long AI Overview is often invisible without a full scroll. That drop in placement leads to lower visibility and CTR.
The “double whammy”: For industries like healthcare, desktop ads sit below the AI Overviews most of the time, while mobile performs slightly better. This suggests the AI Overviews box may be tuned for mobile screens in a way that occasionally leaves one or two ad slots visible, but the desktop view is still dominated by AI. Marketers need to tailor their creative to the narrow window of opportunity available on the mobile SERP.
Actionable insight: Mobile is where the disruption from AI Overviews hits hardest. For industries like healthcare and gaming, where the mobile “Below %” rate is disproportionately high, securing top ad rank becomes a matter of screen survival.
The query intent test: Where does AI Overviews win and lose?
In general, long queries (high word count) tend to be informational and more likely to trigger AI Overviews. Short queries (low word count) are usually transactional. The table below, however, exposes a counterintuitive industry pattern.
This table shows the relationship between query complexity (user intent) and AI Overviews dominance across query lengths from one to 10 words.

Strategic implications on query intent
AI Overviews dominance on the fringes:

Healthcare shows a clear pattern: as queries become longer (10 words), the ad’s position above the AI Overviews drops to 0.0%. This confirms that Google views complex health-related questions, pushing all commercial intent below the scroll.
Gaming is the opposite: short terms (1-2 words) see 0.0% visibility above the AI Overviews, suggesting a SERP feature (like a pack or video) or a strong organic result is claiming the top spot, forcing the ad below the AI Overviews. However, on long terms (Word Count 7-9), ads take 100% of the above-AI Overviews space. This is a massive opportunity to intercept users in the deep research phase.
The unexpected paid search opportunity (Automotive & Travel):

In industries like Automotive and Travel, ads actually perform better on longer, more informational queries than on short, high-volume terms. For Automotive, the “Ad Above AI Overviews” rate jumps from 21.9% (1 word) to over 74% (4 words).
Strategic implication: This challenges the traditional PPC strategy. Instead of avoiding informational keywords where AI Overviews are present, paid marketers should be aggressively bidding on these mid-to-upper-funnel queries, as the ad position relative to the AI Overviews is highly favorable, allowing them to intercept the user’s journey before a final decision is made.
Next steps for paid search marketers
Adthena’s study confirms the Google AI Overviews threat is segmented. The best strategy is precision: know when and where your ads beat the AI Overviews position and adjust bids and creative.
While this is still early data, as AI Overviews frequency continues to increase, this percentage of ad position might change. We recommend you regularly audit profitable keywords to proactively manage visibility in the changing AI search landscape.
Here are three critical, actionable next steps for paid search marketers:
1. Have you explored testing a device-specific strategy?
The data shows that mobile devices often magnify visibility loss from AI Overviews, especially in categories like automotive.
Consider testing a device-specific campaign strategy, particularly for campaigns hit hardest by AI Overviews cutting into ad visibility.
2. Have you identified quick wins in keyword coverage?
The word count data reveals some counterintuitive opportunities. In industries like Gaming and Automotive, long-tail informational queries (four or more words) are where ads often secure strong placement above the AI Overviews. 
That means there may be high-visibility traffic in mid- to upper-funnel searches that your competitors are overlooking.
3. Have you reviewed your ad copy against the AI answer?
AI Overviews often miss brand nuances and emotional cues. 
To earn the click, your ad must do what the AI cannot: give users a clear, compelling, and urgent reason to leave Google’s summary and choose you. Messaging that highlights trust, guarantees, or speed can break through AI’s generic tone.
Focus your copy on transactional hooks such as deals, free shipping, limited-time offers, or scarcity (“12 hours left to buy”). Build trust and emotion with human-centered elements like customer service, testimonials, and your unique brand story.
The SERP has changed. The data shows that marketers who gain real-time, granular visibility into their ad position relative to AI Overviews – and act on it – will be the ones who succeed in this new paid search landscape.
Ready to see where your ads sit today?
Adthena shows exactly when your ads appear above or below AI Overviews, so you can stay ahead of how AI Search is disrupting performance. Book a demo to see where you stand on the SERP.

Ad position is critical. New data reveals how Google AI Overviews affect paid search visibility and CTR.

How AI Overviews are impacting ad position and the fight for top spot by Adthena

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-800x450.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-800x450.png 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-600x338.png 600w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-200x113.png 200w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-1536x864.png 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-150x84.png 150w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>Black Friday 2025 shows rising ad costs but strong engagement, making post-click optimization more crucial than ever for advertisers.

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-800x450.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-800x450.png 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-600x338.png 600w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-200x113.png 200w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-1536x864.png 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920-150x84.png 150w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2015/10/black-friday-sale-generic-ss-1920.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>
<p>Black Friday 2025 was a bit of a head-scratcher. Year on year, spend rose, impressions fell, but clicks and engagement stayed strong.</p>



<p><strong>The data (so far):</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Source: Optmyzr-connected Google Ads accounts (5,000+ ecommerce, 16,000 lead gen advertisers active both years).</li>



<li>Conversion value and ROAS are still coming in — we’ll update when the full picture is ready.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Two big takeaways:</strong></p>



<p><strong>Visibility got pricier.</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Spend up ~17% across ecommerce and lead gen.</li>



<li>Impressions fell year over year.</li>



<li>Translation: advertisers paid more to reach roughly the same audience.</li>
</ul>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="534" height="528" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-02-at-20.24.26.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465577" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-02-at-20.24.26.png 534w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-02-at-20.24.26-95x95.png 95w" sizes="(max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px" /></figure></div>


<p><strong>Engagement held steady.</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Clicks and CTR up across the board.</li>



<li>Lead gen saw slightly lower CPCs and a noticeable lift in clicks.</li>



<li>Attention is still there — people are clicking.</li>
</ul>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="549" height="536" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-02-at-20.24.36.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465576"/></figure></div>


<p><strong>What this could mean for Q4 and Q1 2026:</strong></p>



<p><strong>Costs likely stay high.</strong> Black Friday is already competitive; if reach got more expensive here, the trend probably continues through early 2026.</p>



<p><strong>Clicks aren’t the bottleneck.</strong> The bigger question is what happens after the click — returns, conversions, and overall efficiency matter more than raw traffic.</p>



<p><strong>Post-click experience matters.</strong> Landing pages, offers, checkout flows, and lead follow-ups will determine success when clicks don’t immediately convert.</p>



<p><strong>Why we care. </strong>Black Friday 2025 shows a clear trend: reaching audiences is getting more expensive, even as engagement remains strong. This means that while clicks are easier to get, converting them into revenue or leads will require smarter post-click strategies — optimizing landing pages, offers, and follow-ups is now more critical than ever. Ignoring these shifts could lead to higher spend with lower returns.</p>



<p><strong>Bottom line</strong>. Advertisers paid more to stay visible during Black Friday 2025, but attention remained strong. The challenge for the rest of Q4 and Q1 isn’t getting traffic — it’s turning that traffic into results efficiently.</p>



<p><strong>Dig Deeper. </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/optmyzr_bfcm-yoy-ppc-trends-activity-7400579304520286208-qNty/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_ios&amp;rcm=ACoAAAB0N7MBstWf5SblEci2G1F3WzMSeIW1b7s">Black Friday year on year PPC performance snapshot</a></p>


Black Friday 2025 was a bit of a head-scratcher. Year on year, spend rose, impressions fell, but clicks and engagement stayed strong.
The data (so far):
Source: Optmyzr-connected Google Ads accounts (5,000+ ecommerce, 16,000 lead gen advertisers active both years).
Conversion value and ROAS are still coming in — we’ll update when the full picture is ready.
Two big takeaways:
Visibility got pricier.
Spend up ~17% across ecommerce and lead gen.
Impressions fell year over year.
Translation: advertisers paid more to reach roughly the same audience.

Engagement held steady.
Clicks and CTR up across the board.
Lead gen saw slightly lower CPCs and a noticeable lift in clicks.
Attention is still there — people are clicking.

What this could mean for Q4 and Q1 2026:
Costs likely stay high. Black Friday is already competitive; if reach got more expensive here, the trend probably continues through early 2026.
Clicks aren’t the bottleneck. The bigger question is what happens after the click — returns, conversions, and overall efficiency matter more than raw traffic.
Post-click experience matters. Landing pages, offers, checkout flows, and lead follow-ups will determine success when clicks don’t immediately convert.
Why we care. Black Friday 2025 shows a clear trend: reaching audiences is getting more expensive, even as engagement remains strong. This means that while clicks are easier to get, converting them into revenue or leads will require smarter post-click strategies — optimizing landing pages, offers, and follow-ups is now more critical than ever. Ignoring these shifts could lead to higher spend with lower returns.
Bottom line. Advertisers paid more to stay visible during Black Friday 2025, but attention remained strong. The challenge for the rest of Q4 and Q1 isn’t getting traffic — it’s turning that traffic into results efficiently.
Dig Deeper. Black Friday year on year PPC performance snapshot

Black Friday 2025 shows rising ad costs but strong engagement, making post-click optimization more crucial than ever for advertisers.

Black Friday 2025: More expensive, still engaging

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-800x450.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-800x450.png 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-600x338.png 600w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-200x113.png 200w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-1536x864.png 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-150x84.png 150w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>OpenAI confirmed the issue and wrote, "We’re currently experiencing issues."

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-800x450.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-800x450.png 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-600x338.png 600w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-200x113.png 200w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-768x432.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-1536x864.png 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL-150x84.png 150w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2023/02/Fluency-FLC00723_BLOG_ChatGPT-Integration_Martech_1920x1080_FINAL.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>
<p>ChatGPT is currently down for many users of the popular OpenAI service. When you try to ask ChatGPT a question, you likely won&#8217;t get a response.</p>



<p>OpenAI <a href="https://status.openai.com/">confirmed</a> the issue on its status page saying, &#8220;We’re currently experiencing issues.&#8221; </p>



<p>OpenAI added, &#8220;We have identified that users are experiencing elevated errors for the impacted services. We are working on implementing a mitigation.&#8221;</p>



<p><strong>What it looks like. </strong>Many are seeing just a black dot as a response to their questions within the ChatGPT interface:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="984" height="580" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-down.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-465569" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-down.jpg 984w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-down-768x453.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Offline for many. </strong>The OpenAI status screen shows the uptime by service:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1408" height="614" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/uptime-status.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465572" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/uptime-status.png 1408w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/uptime-status-768x335.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px" /></figure>



<p>Downdetector <a href="https://downdetector.com/status/chatgpt/">shows</a> the service has been reported as offline by thousands of users:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1500" height="618" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/downdetector-chatgpt-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465571" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/downdetector-chatgpt-1.png 1500w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/downdetector-chatgpt-1-768x316.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The issue started at about 2:30 pm ET and is still down after almost 30 minutes right now.</p>



<p><strong>Why we care. </strong>If you are using ChatGPT for your own tasks, marketing, SEO, PPC or just to send a client an email, it might not work properly for you. </p>



<p>I am sure OpenAI is doing its best to get it up and running again.</p>



<p><strong>Coming back. </strong>About 30 minutes after the outage, it seems to be coming back for some users. I tested it and at 3pm ET it does seem to be working again.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1634" height="966" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-respnse.png" alt="" class="wp-image-465574" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-respnse.png 1634w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-respnse-768x454.png 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2025/12/chatgpt-respnse-1536x908.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1634px) 100vw, 1634px" /></figure>


ChatGPT is currently down for many users of the popular OpenAI service. When you try to ask ChatGPT a question, you likely won’t get a response.
OpenAI confirmed the issue on its status page saying, “We’re currently experiencing issues.” 
OpenAI added, “We have identified that users are experiencing elevated errors for the impacted services. We are working on implementing a mitigation.”
What it looks like. Many are seeing just a black dot as a response to their questions within the ChatGPT interface:




Offline for many. The OpenAI status screen shows the uptime by service:




Downdetector shows the service has been reported as offline by thousands of users:




The issue started at about 2:30 pm ET and is still down after almost 30 minutes right now.
Why we care. If you are using ChatGPT for your own tasks, marketing, SEO, PPC or just to send a client an email, it might not work properly for you. 
I am sure OpenAI is doing its best to get it up and running again.
Coming back. About 30 minutes after the outage, it seems to be coming back for some users. I tested it and at 3pm ET it does seem to be working again.

OpenAI confirmed the issue and wrote, "We’re currently experiencing issues."

ChatGPT is currently down for many

<div><img width="800" height="457" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-800x457.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-800x457.jpg 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-592x338.jpg 592w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-198x113.jpg 198w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-768x439.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-1536x878.jpg 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>Google is simplifying lifecycle marketing by letting advertisers target high-value and lapsed customers directly from Google Analytics.

<div><img width="800" height="457" src="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-800x457.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" srcset="https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-800x457.jpg 800w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-592x338.jpg 592w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-198x113.jpg 198w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-768x439.jpg 768w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920-1536x878.jpg 1536w, https://searchengineland.com/wp-content/seloads/2024/05/google-analytics-1920.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></div>
<p>Google is expanding its customer lifecycle tools in Google Analytics with new audience templates and dynamic remarketing features that help you target and re-engage high-value customers more easily.</p>



<p><strong>Driving the news</strong>. Google rolled out two suggested audience templates in Google Analytics that let you instantly build lifecycle segments:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>High-Value Purchasers</strong>: Built on purchase count or lifetime value, with a new LTV percentile field that helps marketers isolate their top-tier customers.</li>



<li><strong>Disengaged Purchasers</strong>: Based on days since last purchase, giving brands a simple way to re-engage lapsed buyers.</li>
</ul>



<p>These templates sync directly with Google Ads customer lifecycle goals, including high-value acquisition and re-engagement.</p>



<p><strong>Dynamic remarketing</strong>. Google is also bringing display dynamic remarketing directly into Analytics, letting brands serve personalized product ads to past site visitors without setting up remarketing elsewhere.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Once you implement Google’s recommended ecommerce event collection, Analytics will automatically share dynamic remarketing data with linked Google Ads accounts, as long as personalized advertising is enabled.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Why we care.</strong> Google is making it easier to target the customers who matter most – high-value buyers and lapsed purchasers – without building audiences from scratch. These templates and dynamic remarketing tools offer faster, smarter ways to drive acquisition, retention, and repeat purchases directly from Google Analytics.</p>



<p><strong>The announcement.</strong> <a href="https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9164320?hl=en#12012025">New suggested audience templates for customer lifecycle goals</a></p>


Google is expanding its customer lifecycle tools in Google Analytics with new audience templates and dynamic remarketing features that help you target and re-engage high-value customers more easily.
Driving the news. Google rolled out two suggested audience templates in Google Analytics that let you instantly build lifecycle segments:
High-Value Purchasers: Built on purchase count or lifetime value, with a new LTV percentile field that helps marketers isolate their top-tier customers.
Disengaged Purchasers: Based on days since last purchase, giving brands a simple way to re-engage lapsed buyers.
These templates sync directly with Google Ads customer lifecycle goals, including high-value acquisition and re-engagement.
Dynamic remarketing. Google is also bringing display dynamic remarketing directly into Analytics, letting brands serve personalized product ads to past site visitors without setting up remarketing elsewhere.
Once you implement Google’s recommended ecommerce event collection, Analytics will automatically share dynamic remarketing data with linked Google Ads accounts, as long as personalized advertising is enabled.
Why we care. Google is making it easier to target the customers who matter most – high-value buyers and lapsed purchasers – without building audiences from scratch. These templates and dynamic remarketing tools offer faster, smarter ways to drive acquisition, retention, and repeat purchases directly from Google Analytics.
The announcement. New suggested audience templates for customer lifecycle goals

Google is simplifying lifecycle marketing by letting advertisers target high-value and lapsed customers directly from Google Analytics.

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