Google confirmed an AI Mode experiment mixing Shopping ads into organic product carousels

Sachin Patel spotted AI Mode product carousels headed 'Sponsored' and 'All products', mixing paid listings with organic visual search results. A Google spokesperson confirmed it is part of the company's ongoing experiments with ads in AI Mode.

Google told Search Engine Roundtable that 'Shopping Ads can appear alongside organic visual search results within carousels for commercially relevant queries' and that 'All sponsored listings are labeled Sponsored'. Google has mixed ads with organic results since confirming dynamic ad placement in October 2023, and this extends that behaviour into AI Mode carousels.