How AI Chatbots Could Change Online Ads

Imagine you're searching for concert tickets. In the past, ads shown in your search results were a good thing – they meant you could actually buy tickets. Today, with AI, people want more details – seat locations, prices, and more. Marissa Mayer, former Yahoo CEO and now head of Sunshine, thinks advertisers will have to share even more data with search engines to meet these higher expectations. Mayer's experience in online advertising makes her opinion worth considering.

Think about how ads have changed over time. Ten years ago, ads were simpler. Now, they're way more detailed. Mayer believes this trend will continue, with companies like Stubhub or Ticketmaster sharing more info about their ticket inventory. This isn't just about search engines like Google, though. AI companies like OpenAI and Perplexity could also partner with advertisers to provide sponsored answers that fit what users are looking for. But why would advertisers give up so much data? Well, as AI gets more powerful, it also gets more expensive. AI companies need new ways to make money. Giving users exactly what they want in search results could be a big part of that. It's a win-win: users get the info they need, and advertisers get more sales.

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