Google VP of Ads bets on AI to transform ads into tailored consumer journeys

Google’s Ads and Commerce product lead, Vidhya Srinivasan, today outlined how the company is reimagining advertising as “avenues for tailored exploration” in response to unpredictable consumer behavior.

The big picture: Google is focusing on three key solutions to help advertisers break through:

• AI-powered shopping innovations. Google launched several new shopping features, including ads in Lens, AI-powered Google Shopping, 3D product spins, and virtual try-on experiences for clothing items.
• YouTube creator partnerships. The platform’s highly engaged audiences, particularly Gen Z, trust creator recommendations 98% more than those on other social platforms (according to Google figures). Google is developing more interactive ads with the aim of helping brands connect with relevant creators.
• Enhanced search experiences. AI-powered features like AI Overviews, Circle to Search, and Google Lens are expanding the types of questions people can ask. These new search capabilities has potential for increased commercial query volume.

Why we care. As consumer behavior becomes increasingly fragmented across devices and platforms, Google is betting on AI to help advertisers create more personalized, relevant content that can break through the noise.

With consumers rapidly switching between devices and platforms, these AI-powered solutions have the potential to help advertisers maintain visibility throughout the entire customer journey, from discovery to purchase, while leveraging trusted creator relationships that drive higher engagement, particularly among younger audiences.

Although it is still key to ensure that adequate human intervention still remains as AI capabilities keep improving and evolving.

By the numbers (according to Google internal research):

• People shop more than a billion times daily across Google
• Consumers used Google or YouTube in approximately two-thirds of purchases where they discovered something new
• YouTube viewers watch over 1 billion hours of content daily on TVs
• Google processes more than 5 trillion searches annually (416 billion searches per month)

Between the lines. Srinivasan’s letter emphasizes that simply creating compelling content isn’t enough. Brands need to “show up everywhere people are, from discovery to decision” to capture attention in today’s fragmented media landscape.

Bottom line. Srinivasan points to several AI-powered advertising innovations already launched, including ads in Lens, AI-powered shopping, 3D spins for ad images, and virtual try-on features for clothing, with promises of “much more to come.”

Google is positioning itself as the solution to fragmented consumer attention by helping brands create more relevant content and appear at critical moments across the customer journey, from discovery to purchase decision.