Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast When and How Will Google Monetize AI Search? Will It Reconcile Its AI Chatbots? And More — The 3 Big Questions for Google | Behind the Numbers
Feb 19, 2026
Jeremy Goldman, Senior Director of Content offering strategic takes on commerce and advertising. Nate Elliott, Principal AI analyst focused on business implications and data-driven forecasts. They debate when and how Google will monetize AI search. They weigh ad placement in AI responses, AI-driven commerce opportunities, and why Google runs two overlapping AI chatbots.
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Will AI Replace Traditional Search?
- Google must decide if AI search will replace traditional search or sit alongside it as an option for users.
- The company must balance user experience with preserving its lucrative search-advertising revenue model.
Experiment With Ads In AI Gradually
- Google should experiment slowly with placing ads in AI overviews and AI mode to measure user reaction and revenue impact.
- Default users gradually while monitoring friction so ad monetization doesn't erode core search revenue.
AI Commerce Will Largely Drive Offsite Sales
- AI-driven commerce will grow quickly but from a small base, reaching under 9% of US online retail by 2029.
- Most AI-influenced purchases will still complete on retailer sites rather than inside chatbots.