Google Tests Organic-Looking Text Link Ads Inside AI Mode Answers
lilyraynyc · x · 2026-09-15
- Google is testing a text anchor-link ad format inside AI Mode: sponsored links look like normal organic links within the AI answer, with only a "Sponsored" label above the response.
- Spotted by Sachin Patel and reported by Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Roundtable; similar anchor links appeared in April but as organic results, not ads.
- The format is controversial: it blends in with organic results, but click-through rates may be lower since users rarely click links inside AI answers anyway.
- A notable signal for SEO/SEM practitioners on how AI Mode monetization is taking shape.
Related event: Google Tests Native-Looking Text Ads Inside AI Mode(2 posts)→
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