Summary
- Google announced new transparency features for ads created or edited with AI.
- The new “How this ad was made” section will appear in My Ad Center.
- The feature will be available across Search, YouTube and Discover.
- Ads created with Google’s own AI tools will receive automatic disclosures.
- Advertisers will also be able to disclose AI use for ads created outside Google tools.
Google is introducing new transparency features that will show users whether an ad was created or modified with artificial intelligence.
The company announced the addition of a “How this ad was made” section in My Ad Center, available globally through the three-dot menu or the information icon on ads appearing in Search, YouTube and Discover.
The change matters because generative artificial intelligence is now being used more widely in the creation of advertising content, making it increasingly important for users to understand how the content they see was produced or altered.
What the new panel will show
The new section will inform users whether an ad was created or edited with the help of artificial intelligence.
Access will be available from the same place where users can already view information about an ad, namely My Ad Center. There, additional information will now appear regarding the use of AI in the creation or modification of advertising material.
Automatic and manual disclosures
When advertisers use Google’s generative AI advertising tools to create ads, the relevant disclosure will be added automatically to the ad’s panel.
For ads created outside Google’s tools, the company is introducing a new control that will allow advertisers to indicate whether they used generative artificial intelligence. Depending on local requirements, the relevant label may also appear directly on the ad.
Connection with SynthID and transparency policies
Google says the new features are part of its broader effort around AI transparency. The company already embeds imperceptible signals, such as SynthID, into outputs generated by its own generative AI tools.
At the same time, since 2023 it has introduced a requirement to disclose synthetic or digitally altered content in election ads. The new expansion now applies more broadly to Google’s advertising ecosystem.
What applies to misleading ads
Google emphasizes that its existing advertising policies continue to apply, regardless of whether an ad was created with AI or not.
The company says it prohibits misleading and deceptive ads, while continuing to apply advertiser verification procedures and to show information about who is behind an ad.
What we think
Google’s move is expected but important, as the use of AI in advertising is becoming widespread. Transparency does not solve the problem of deception on its own, but it gives users an additional tool to better understand what they are seeing and who created it.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the new AI information appear?
The information will appear in My Ad Center, through the three-dot menu or the information icon on ads.
Which services will it apply to?
Google says the feature will be available on ads in Search, YouTube and Discover.
Will a label always appear directly on the ad?
Not necessarily. The label may appear directly on the ad depending on local requirements or when the relevant control is used by the advertiser.
What happens when an ad is created with Google’s AI tools?
In this case, Google will automatically add the relevant disclosure to the ad’s panel.
Are the rules for misleading ads changing?
The existing policies remain in place, and Google says it continues to prohibit misleading or deceptive ads, whether they were created with AI or not.
