Why Google Ads Still Wins in the Age of AI Overviews
**Quick answer: Google Ads remain essential even after AI Overviews. Ads now additionally appear inside Overviews, organic clicks drop by up to 35%, and it is still only Google Ads that gives you precision targeting.
Wait…did AI really “kill” the click?
If AI Overviews solve the user’s problem right on the search results page, why would anyone still click an ad?
Because Google can’t afford for them not to.
Advertising still supplies roughly 75 % of Alphabet’s revenue (as of 2024), and that cash pays for the very AI models now powering Overviews. Google isn’t going to cannibalize its golden goose. Instead, it’s redesigning the coop.
As AI evolves in search, Google Ads remains as critical for your lead generation and ecommerce sales as ever. Here are 3 big reasons why.
1) AI Overviews integrate with Google Ads
Of course it does!!
Google is blending text and image ads above, below and within Overviews. This is available on many U.S. desktop devices today, with support for mobile devices and more countries coming later in 2025. (Early roll-out started in May 2025, confirmed at Google Marketing Live.)
AI overviews don’t displace ads. They give advertisers additional, context-focused ways to promote their business.
2) Organic visibility is the real loser
When an AI Overview jumps to the top of the Google Search Results Page, organic listings slide further down—often below the fold.
Meanwhile, ads occupy every layer that remains above those organic results.
So in the war of SEO vs. PPC, AI Overviews is changing the rules to favor PPC even more.
3) Precision targeting still lives in Google Ads
AI answers mix informational, exploratory, and purchase‑ready queries. Google Ads lets you:
- Bid only on conversion‑ready keywords.
- Layer audience, location, and intent signals for sniper‑level relevance.
- Test offers and creatives quickly, then scale winners.
Organic tactics simply can’t match this granularity at speed.
Google Ads continues to give you precision targeting to reach your ideal audiences both within and around AI Overviews.
Summary
As long as Google is alive and kicking, Google Ads will remain their centerpiece. It will continue to be the most effective means of leads and sales for many businesses. And now it could become even more powerful thanks to the intent-focused context of AI Overviews.
Key takeaways
- AI Overviews don’t displace ad inventory – they add more of it.
- SEO real estate shrinks, while paid clicks step forward.
- Targeting power remains unmatched in Google Ads.
FAQ
No. Google still earns about 75 % of its revenue from advertising, so PPC remains core to its business model and the search experience.
They can display above, below, or even embedded within the Overview box on U.S. desktop searches (roll‑out began May 2025), with global mobile support scheduled later in 2025.
Maintain a balanced mix, but expect organic CTR drops of 15–35 % when AI Overviews are present. PPC can reclaim lost visibility.
Leverage Google Ads keyword and audience signals to focus spend on bottom‑funnel, conversion‑ready queries.
Ready to future‑proof your pipeline?
If your campaigns are “working, but not well enough,” let’s chat. We’ll audit your account, flag wasted spend, and map out a plan for you to thrive in the AI‑first era of Google Search.
➡️ Book a 30‑minute strategy call with Andrew
Related reading: Want to learn more about the right and wrong ways to leverage AI for your Google Ads campaigns? See AI for Google Ads Lead Generation: 3 Good Uses and 3 Costly Mistakes
