AI ads in 2026: which AI assistants already run ads, and which do not

As of October 2026, there are four places where you can run ads inside AI assistants: ChatGPT, AI answers in Google Search, Microsoft Copilot, and Amazon's Rufus. The Gemini app and Perplexity show no ads.

How it works differs from platform to platform. Only ChatGPT has its own ad account and its own auction. Google, Microsoft, and Amazon build AI placements into the ad platforms advertisers already know.

Below, we break down each platform. The data comes from platform documentation and announcements; where there is no official source, we say so.

The short answer: where AI ads exist and where they do not

The key difference: ChatGPT requires you to learn a new way of setting up ads, while your existing Google and Microsoft campaigns may already be showing in AI answers, if they are configured the right way.

ChatGPT: its own ad account, its own auction, and targeting by conversation

OpenAI started testing ads in the US on February 9, 2026. By October, ads appear in more than 60 countries, and you can open an account yourself if your legal entity is registered in one of the 63 countries on OpenAI's list.

Ads appear below ChatGPT's answer and are labeled as sponsored. They are shown to adult users on the Free and Go plans. According to OpenAI, ChatGPT had 1.2 billion weekly users as of October 2026, but that figure covers all plans, including paid ones that show no ads.

Targeting works differently from what most advertisers are used to. Instead of keywords, you write context hints: descriptions of situations in which your offer is useful. The system picks an ad based on the meaning of the conversation, not on matching words.

Formats: a card below the answer, product ads, and carousels built from your catalog. In testing in the US: visual ads next to image generation, and Sponsored Agents, a conversation with a brand's agent.

Pricing: per 1,000 impressions, per click, or conversion optimization with pay-per-click. For clicks, OpenAI recommends starting with a $3–5 bid; the minimum daily budget is $25.

Other routes: in September 2026, Amazon Ads launched a pilot in which Amazon DSP campaigns can appear in ChatGPT (US).

For how ChatGPT ads and Ads Manager work, see our article — "How to advertise in ChatGPT"; for every format, see "ChatGPT ad formats" article.

Google: AI Overviews and AI Mode, where your ads may already be

AI Overviews. Ads inside AI Overviews in Google Search have run in the US since October 2024. Since December 19, 2025, they have been available in 11 more countries: Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Singapore, for English-language queries.

There is no separate campaign for AI Overviews. Ads are pulled from existing Search, Shopping, and Performance Max campaigns. For Search campaigns, the requirement is broad match or keywordless targeting through Performance Max or AI Max. Exact and phrase match are not enough.

AI Mode. At Google Marketing Live on May 20, 2026, Google unveiled four formats for conversational search:

• Conversational Discovery ads: Gemini creates an ad tailored to the user's specific question; in testing in the US;
• Highlighted Answers: an ad inside an AI-generated list of recommendations; in testing in the US;
• AI-powered Shopping ads: an explanation of why a product fits the user's need, for high-consideration purchases; launching in the US later in 2026;
• Business Agent for Leads: a chat with a brand's agent instead of a lead form; open beta for US advertisers.

Gemini. The Gemini app itself shows no ads. In December 2025, Google said it had no plans to add them; in April 2026, company leadership described itself as open-minded about the idea, but gave no timeline or formats.

The takeaway for advertisers in Kenya and Nigeria: Google AI answers with ads are already live in your markets, and well-configured Google Ads campaigns are all you need to appear in them.

Microsoft Copilot: a familiar ad platform, a new placement

Ads in Copilot appear below the AI answer to commercial queries and are labeled as ads. There is no separate account: placements are set up in Microsoft Advertising, and Search, Shopping, and Performance Max campaigns are eligible.

In January 2026, Microsoft launched Copilot Checkout, which lets users complete a purchase inside the Copilot chat (US at launch), and Brand Agents, AI shopping assistants for Shopify store websites.

If you already run Microsoft Advertising campaigns, check whether Copilot placements are enabled for them. Microsoft lists the markets where Copilot ads are available in its help center.

Amazon Rufus: ads in the assistant's suggested questions

Rufus is Amazon's AI shopping assistant. On March 25, 2026, Sponsored Product Prompts and Sponsored Brand Prompts came out of beta in the US: suggested questions such as "which model is better for…" that lead to advertised products.

You pay per click. You cannot pick specific prompts or bid on them: Amazon selects them itself, and advertisers get a separate report. This channel only works for brands selling on Amazon in the US.

Gemini and Perplexity: why there are no ads here (yet)

Perplexity launched ads in November 2024: sponsored follow-up questions below the answer. In February 2026, the Financial Times reported that the company is winding down ads by the end of the year. According to Perplexity executives, ads make users suspicious of everything, while answers depend on trust. The company is betting on subscriptions instead.

Gemini, as noted above, shows no ads in the app.

On these platforms, a brand can only appear organically, through mentions in answers.

Which AI platform to start with: a quick guide

• You already run Google Ads with broad match or Performance Max in markets on Google's list. You are most likely already in AI Overviews. Check your settings and feeds.
• You sell B2B, services, or products with a long consideration cycle. Test ChatGPT Ads: targeting works on the meaning of the conversation, and it is a separate skill.
• You sell on Amazon in the US. Rufus prompts already run within your Sponsored Products campaigns.
• You are based in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, or Azerbaijan. Google AI answers do not show ads in your markets yet, and ChatGPT Ads are not shown there either. But companies from these countries can run ChatGPT ads in markets where they are available.

Frequently asked questions

Can you advertise in Gemini?

No. As of October 2026, the Gemini app has no ads. Google's ads in AI answers appear in Search: in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Does Perplexity have ads?

No. Perplexity is winding down its ad program and moving to a subscription model.

Do I need a separate setup for AI Overviews ads?

No. There is no separate campaign. Your ads get there from Search, Shopping, and Performance Max campaigns that use broad match or keywordless targeting.

Can I run ChatGPT ads from Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan?

Not on your own: your legal entity must be in one of the 63 countries on OpenAI's list. Through companies that run campaigns for clients, yes, in markets where ads are already live. Showing ads to users in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is not possible yet.

Do ads affect the AI's answers?

In ChatGPT, no: according to OpenAI, ads and answers run on separate systems, and advertisers cannot change an answer. In Google AI Mode, ads are built into recommendation lists but labeled as sponsored.

How much do ChatGPT ads cost?

There is no fixed price; it is an auction. OpenAI recommends starting with a $3–5 bid per click; the minimum daily budget is $25.

The bottom line: AI ads are closer than they seem

A common belief is that AI assistants do not have ads yet. In fact, ads already run in four places, and in two of them your ads may already be showing without any extra setup. ChatGPT is the only platform that needs its own account and a new approach to targeting.

Evido by Aitarget helps launching ChatGPT Ads campaigns, including for companies in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Africa, where self-serve registration is not yet available.

If you want to try ChatGPT Ads, get in touch: we will review your application and offer available launch options.