New Google Ads AI Mode: Text Anchor Ads and the New Advertising Format in AI Search

Google continues to reshape Search around AI, gradually changing how Google Ads works. In September 2026, a new advertising link format called Text Anchor Ads began appearing in AI Mode tests.

It looks different from a traditional search ad: users see a text link within or alongside an AI-generated answer, with the placement labeled Sponsored.

For affiliate marketers and media buyers, the key point is not how the link looks but how it works. Google is testing ways to bring ads from the familiar search results page into an AI-powered experience, where users receive an answer before deciding whether to click through.

What Are Text Anchor Ads in Google AI Mode?

In our previous article, we explored how ChatGPT Ads in 2026 could change how affiliate marketers find traffic. A similar shift is now taking place at Google: AI is becoming part of Search, and ad formats are evolving with it.

Text Anchor Ads is the name used in industry coverage for a text-based ad link format being tested in AI Mode.

Instead of the familiar flow:headline → description → ad assets → click

users may see an anchored text link within or alongside an AI-generated answer.

Based on observations of the test, the ad link resembles a regular link in an AI answer but carries a Sponsored label.

Importantly, Text Anchor Ads are not currently a separate, widely available campaign type in Google Ads, and Google has not introduced the name as an official standalone ad product. There is no reason to look for a dedicated Text Anchor Ads setting in your account yet.

What matters more is the broader direction: Google is testing new ways to integrate ads directly into AI-powered search experiences.

How AI Mode Differs From Traditional Search

In traditional Search, users enter a query and receive search results alongside ads.

AI Mode adds another layer. Users can ask a detailed question, Google analyzes the context and generates an AI answer, and a relevant ad may appear within that experience.

For example, a user might search for:

Traditional Search:

VPN for working abroad

AI Mode:

Which VPN would work well with international services if I frequently travel between countries?

The second query reveals more about the user's actual need. AI Mode can consider that context and provide a more detailed answer, with advertising potentially appearing as part of the experience.

For PPC, this makes more than the right keyword important. The query, offer, ad, and landing page need to align.

What This Means for Affiliate Marketers

The user journey could change:

Before:

query → ad → landing page

In AI search:

detailed query → AI interprets intent → generates an answer → relevant ad → landing page

That does not mean traditional Search is disappearing. Google continues to develop both experiences.

But advertisers need to pay closer attention to signals about user context and intent. As a result, the keyword → ad → landing page connection becomes even more important: the ad should reflect the actual offer, and the landing page should meet the user's expectations.

Text Anchor Ads Are Part of a Bigger Shift

Text Anchor Ads are just one of Google's experiments with advertising in AI search.

Google is also developing ads in AI Overviews. Eligible ads can come from existing Search, Shopping, and Performance Max campaigns when they match the user's query and meet the conditions of the ad auction.

This distinction matters for affiliate marketers: these are not two entirely separate advertising systems. Google is gradually adding AI experiences to its existing ad infrastructure.

Do You Need Separate Campaigns for AI Mode?

Google is gradually introducing AI features into its existing Search Ads infrastructure.

For now, creating a separate campaign solely for AI Mode is not an established strategy.

Advertisers also cannot create a campaign exclusively for AI Overviews or opt out of only those placements. In addition, Google does not currently provide a separate reporting segment that isolates these impressions.

Rather than waiting for a dedicated Text Anchor Ads setting, it is more practical to prepare existing Search campaigns for Google's growing use of AI.

Landing Pages Matter More Than Ever

If Google uses AI to interpret queries and ad offers, landing page content becomes even more important.

A page should clearly explain:

• what the product or service is;
• who it is for;
• what problem it solves;
• how much it costs;
• what terms apply;
• what limitations exist.

Google already uses website and landing page content for AI features in Search.

For example, Text Customization in AI Max can draw on website information, existing ads, and keywords to generate additional headlines and descriptions.

Outdated prices, conflicting claims, and expired terms on a landing page may therefore become an even bigger problem.

Ad Copy

Do not rely on a list of keywords alone.

Your ad should match what users see after they click.

If someone searches for one solution and lands on a page offering something entirely different, AI optimization will not fix the mismatch.

This is especially important in affiliate marketing: the further your ad copy strays from the actual offer, the weaker the alignment between the query, ad, and landing page.

What Should You Do With AI Max?

AI Max is not a separate campaign type. It is a set of AI-powered features within Search.

For example, Google can use landing page content and existing ads to create additional ad copy or select a more relevant page from your website for a particular query.

It is worth checking now:

• whether landing page prices and terms are up to date;
• whether your ad promises match the actual offer;
• which AI features are enabled in your Search campaigns;
• whether your website contains outdated or conflicting statements.

These checks are likely to be more useful than trying to predict how Text Anchor Ads will work after testing ends.

Will AI Mode Become a Separate Traffic Source?

It is too early to say.

Google does not provide full, separate reporting for AI Overviews impressions. There is also not enough data on Text Anchor Ads to draw conclusions about CTR, CPA, or traffic quality.

A link appearing more naturally within an AI answer does not automatically mean it will attract more clicks or deliver cheaper conversions.

The familiar approach still applies:do not guess how effective the format will be; evaluate actual performance once you have enough data.

Which Products Could Benefit Most From AI Mode?

AI Mode may be particularly relevant for products that users research and compare before making a purchase.

Examples include:

• SaaS products and AI tools;
• VPNs and hosting;
• business tools;
• e-commerce products and subscription services.

In these situations, users may ask AI follow-up questions, compare options, and only then visit a website.

For example, instead of simply searching for:

buy VPS

a user might ask:

Which VPS should I choose for several projects with high server request volumes?

That means ad creative can address a specific need rather than revolve around a keyword alone.

Instead of a generic message such as:

Reliable VPS at a low price

a more relevant approach might be:

VPS for multiple projects with the resources you need and fast setup

The exact wording depends on the product and its real capabilities. What matters is that the offer matches what users find after clicking.

What Happens to Payments as Campaigns Scale?

New ad formats may change how Search works, but scaling campaigns brings another challenge: managing payments.

When a team runs several ad accounts at once, transaction volume grows and it becomes harder to track spending across media buyers.

That is why paying for Google Ads is only part of the equation. The payment infrastructure also matters: separate virtual cards, budget allocation, expense controls, and analytics.

For these tasks, teams can use Pay2.House, a virtual card service for media buyers and online teams.

Pay2.House offers virtual cards for advertising expenses, team access, budget allocation, and an API for automating operations.

This helps teams scale ad campaigns while maintaining control over payments.

Should You Change Your Google Ads Strategy Now?

Not radically.

Text Anchor Ads remain experimental, so it is too early to build a separate strategy around them.

But Google's direction is clear: AI is becoming more deeply integrated into Search and its advertising infrastructure.

For now, advertisers should focus on what they can control:

• keep landing pages up to date;
• make sure ads match the actual offer;
• understand how AI Max works;
• analyze Search campaign performance;
• monitor the development of ads in AI Mode;
• avoid drawing conclusions from small volumes of test traffic.

It is not yet clear whether Text Anchor Ads will become a permanent part of Google Search or remain an experiment.

For PPC specialists, however, the main shift is already underway: Google is increasingly trying to understand the user's actual goal, not just an individual keyword.

Google Ads is gradually changing to reflect that approach.