Week of Oct 13, 2025

12 changes logged the week of Oct 13, 2025, 3 high impact; 2 took effect. Open this week in the change history.

Google Ads

• Google announced ads in AI Overviews would expand beyond the US by end of 2025Oct 13, 2025 · Targeting & Audiences · Search

  At a Google Access event Google said ads inside AI Overviews, live in the US since 2024, would roll out to additional English-speaking markets by the end of 2025. Source

• Healthcare policy changed how prescription drug terms may be used in ads, landing pages and keywordsOct 14, 2025 · Policy · General · effective Oct 29, 2025

  From October 29, 2025, advertisers in Canada, New Zealand and the US may use restricted prescription drug terms promotionally if compliant with local law, while keyword targeting still requires certification; non-promotional uses (e.g., public health) are allowed more broadly. Outside those countries promotional use remains prohibited. Source

• View-through conversion optimization tested for Demand Gen biddingOct 13, 2025 · Bidding & Budget · Demand Gen

  A beta setting lets Demand Gen include view-through conversions in bidding decisions for YouTube image and video traffic, aimed at faster learning and smoother early-stage optimization. Source

• Performance Max now accepts 9:16 vertical image assetsOct 14, 2025 · Creative & Assets · Performance Max

  Performance Max asset groups can include 9:16 vertical images (minimum 600x1067, recommended 1080x1920), a format previously limited to Demand Gen, with expected serving on YouTube Shorts and other vertical placements. Source

• Search results gained a 'Hide sponsored results' control and grouped sponsored ad blocksOct 14, 2025 · Reporting & UI · Search

  Google changed the Search results layout so text ads appear in grouped blocks of up to four under a single sticky 'Sponsored results' header that users can collapse, with Shopping ads labelled 'Sponsored products'. The change affects ad visibility on desktop and mobile. Source

• AI Max search term reports gained a 'Sources' column showing landing pages vs expanded matchesOct 17, 2025 · Reporting & UI · Search

  Thomas Eccel spotted a Sources column that attributes AI Max traffic to landing pages/URL inclusions or AI Max expanded matches. Google did not announce it. Source

• Auto-apply recommendations control moved to a more prominent spot above the recommendations listOct 13, 2025 · Reporting & UI · General

  Aleksejus Podpruginas noticed the Auto-apply button now sits above the regular recommendations section. Google did not announce the UI change. Source

• Recommendations tested an 'optimisation insights' layout grouping tips into three stagesOct 14, 2025 · Reporting & UI · General

  Natasha Kaurra shared a new insights view organising recommendations under Build a Foundation, Drive Performance, and Expand and Grow. Google did not announce it. Source

• Canada cannabis pilot expanded to authorized government operatorsOct 15, 2025 · Policy · Search · effective Oct 15, 2025

  Eligibility for the Canada cannabis Search pilot was widened to include provincially authorized government operators alongside federally licensed advertisers. Source

Merchant Center

• Handling cutoff time [handling_cutoff_time] attribute added for product-level order cutoffsOct 17, 2025 · Launch · Feeds

  Google documented a new handling_cutoff_time attribute that lets merchants set a daily order-processing deadline (with timezone and country sub-attributes) at the product level so delivery estimates are faster and more accurate. Source

Google Ads API & Scripts

• Google Ads API v22 released with AssetGenerationService (beta) and Smart Bidding Exploration metricsOct 15, 2025 · API & Tools · General

  v22 added a generative-AI AssetGenerationService in beta, time-segmented diversity metrics for Smart Bidding Exploration on Target ROAS Search campaigns, new Demand Gen asset automation and bidding strategies (including Target CPC), campaign-level PMax image enhancement/extraction settings, new PMax reporting segments (ad_using_product_data, ad_using_video) and a feed_types field, and target-less bidding goals for App campaigns for installs. Source

ChatGPT Ads

• Walmart partnered with OpenAI to enable Walmart and Sam's Club purchases via Instant Checkout in ChatGPTOct 14, 2025 · Launch · Shopping

  Walmart announced customers and Sam's Club members would be able to plan, restock and complete purchases directly inside ChatGPT using Instant Checkout, the largest retailer to sign on to OpenAI's agentic commerce push. Source

Took effect this week

• Misspelled minimum_bugdet_amount_micros field corrected in v21 on October 15, 2025Effective Oct 15, 2025 · announced Oct 2, 2025 · Google Ads API & Scripts
• Gambling ads permitted in Cross River, Ekiti and Oyo states, NigeriaEffective Oct 16, 2025 · announced Oct 1, 2025 · Google Ads

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