If your Google Ads plan still depends on matching keywords alone, you’re falling behind. Google’s new AI Overviews are changing how your future customers search—and in the U.S., ads are already showing up inside them. While that hasn’t hit Canada yet, it will soon.
Here’s what to expect, and why Canadian businesses should start getting ready now.
You’ve probably seen those quick summaries at the top of your search results. These are called AI Overviews. They’re meant to help people understand topics faster.
Now, your ads can show up above, below, or inside these summaries. This works with:
Google isn’t just looking at search terms anymore. It looks at what the search means and what the person might want.
Want to make sure your campaigns are ready before the rollout?
In the past, search ads were mostly triggered by keywords and shown in predictable spots above or below the search results. That worked well when users searched with clear commercial intent, like “buy office chairs” or “best B2B CRM.”
But not every valuable search looks like that. People ask questions, explore ideas, and make decisions gradually.
Here’s how AI Overviews change the game:
| Feature | Traditional Search Ads | AI Overview Ads |
| Placement | Above/Below results | Above, below, or inside AI Overviews |
| Targeting | Based on keywords | Based on user intent and summary content |
| Search Type | Clear commercial intent | Complex or multi-part questions |
| Timing | Often mid to bottom funnel | Top to mid funnel (early discovery phase) |
| User Experience | Skippable if not relevant | Embedded in helpful content |
AI Overview ads meet people earlier in the journey, in a more helpful and organic way. Instead of interrupting, they fit into the flow of what someone is already reading.
At tbk, we focus on helping businesses grow with smart, useful marketing.
This update from Google is important because:
In simple terms: more of the right people, at the right time.
AI Overviews are already live in Canada, but ads within them aren’t here yet. That rollout is underway in the U.S., where users are actively seeing sponsored content inside AI-generated answers.
Canada typically follows the U.S. by 6–9 months on new Google features. That means ads in AI Overviews could land here by late 2025 or early 2026.
Right now, your best shot at appearing in AI Overviews is through SEO. But once ads go live, they’ll take up premium spots, and organic visibility will get a lot more competitive.
This shift won’t just affect your SEO or ad strategy—it’ll reshape how people search, learn, and decide who to buy from.
Getting ahead now means you’ll be ready when it counts.
We’ve helped hundreds of clients turn casual visitors into real customers. Now we’re helping even more businesses get results with our digital advertising services, including:
Not sure if your ads can show in AI Overviews? Chat with a Google Ads expert.
This isn’t just a new feature. It’s a big change in how people find and choose businesses.
To keep up, your business should:
If you’re a B2B company looking for better leads without spending more, Google’s AI Overviews can help you get there.
Let’s make sure your business shows up when people are ready to take action.