Google has expanded its AI Overviews feature to over 100 countries, including Pakistan. This feature provides users with concise, AI-generated summaries at the top of search results, offering quick answers to their queries. Now, for certain commercial searches, Google is integrating sponsored ads directly into these summaries.
How It Works
When users search for products or services—such as “best smartphones under 50,000 PKR”—Google’s AI Overviews may display a brief summary of the query along with relevant sponsored ads. These ads are sourced from existing Google Search and Shopping campaigns and are clearly labeled as “Sponsored.”
Why This Matters
For users, this integration means quicker access to both information and product options without navigating multiple links. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to reach potential customers at the moment of their search intent.
However, this move has raised concerns among publishers. A group of independent publishers has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, alleging that Google’s AI Overviews divert traffic and revenue by using their content without offering an opt-out option.
Availability in Pakistan
While the feature is rolling out globally, including countries like India, Malaysia, and Singapore, users in Pakistan may start noticing these changes in the coming months. As the rollout progresses, it’s advisable to stay updated with Google’s announcements for the latest information.