Google To Integrate Ads Into AI-Powered Search Overviews

Google has announced plans to incorporate search and shopping ads within its AI-generated answers, marking a significant expansion of its advertising capabilities. This initiative, which will be tested in the United States, follows the introduction of the AI Overviews feature at Google’s recent I/O conference. The ads will appear in a ‘sponsored’ section, tailored to the relevance of the user’s query.

Strategic Expansion in AI and Advertising

This move underscores Google’s strategy to leverage its dominance in traditional search advertising by integrating advanced generative AI technologies. The initiative aims to boost ad sales, a major revenue source, which saw a 13% increase to $61.7 billion in Q1 2024. By embedding ads within AI-generated search results, Google seeks to maintain its competitive edge and revenue growth amidst evolving digital landscapes.

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Ongoing Developments and Future Directions

Google will continue refining new ad formats, drawing on feedback from advertisers. Enhancements showcased at the I/O conference, including updates to the Gemini chatbot and search engine improvements, highlight Google’s commitment to advancing AI across its services.

Google’s integration of ads into AI-driven search overviews represents a forward-thinking approach to digital advertising. As the company navigates the intersection of AI innovation and commercial strategy, these developments are set to influence the broader advertising ecosystem significantly.

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Intel Stake Drives SoftBank Profit As OpenAI Contribution Stalls

by News Editor

August 7, 2026

SoftBank reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings after a sharp rise in the value of its Intel investment offset slower gains elsewhere in its technology portfolio.

The Japanese investment group posted net profit of ¥347.3 billion ($2.2 billion) for the quarter ended in June, exceeding analysts’ expectations despite an 18% decline from a year earlier.

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Intel Delivers Biggest Gain

A major contributor to the results was SoftBank’s stake in Intel, which generated an unrealised gain of approximately ¥1.3 trillion following the chipmaker’s strong share-price performance over the past year.

That helped SoftBank’s investment business, separate from its Vision Funds, report segment profit of ¥1.05 trillion.

ByteDance Offsets Weaker Portfolio Performance

Within the Vision Funds, portfolio value increased by $1.7 billion during the quarter, largely driven by a $2.2 billion gain in ByteDance, the owner of TikTok. Higher valuations there helped offset weaker performance at investments including PayPay.

The Vision Funds business reported a modest profit of ¥5.4 billion, a sharp decline from the same period last year. Unlike the previous quarter, SoftBank recorded neither a gain nor a loss on its investment in OpenAI.

OpenAI Remains A Long-Term Bet

SoftBank has committed more than $60 billion to OpenAI, with $55 billion already invested, but said there had been no material developments requiring a change in the company’s valuation.

According to a person familiar with the matter, SoftBank continues to view increasing competition in the AI sector as a sign of market expansion rather than a threat to OpenAI’s long-term prospects. The company also expects to reduce its stake only modestly if OpenAI proceeds with a future public listing.

AI Investments Continue To Weigh On Results

Despite the strong contribution from Intel, SoftBank’s AI computing business remained loss-making. The segment, which includes Arm, Graphcore and Ampere, posted a loss of ¥200.8 billion as research and development spending continued to rise.

Investors have become increasingly focused on whether heavy AI investment will generate sustainable returns, contributing to a decline in SoftBank’s share price in recent months. Nevertheless, Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has maintained that artificial intelligence represents one of the biggest technological opportunities in history and said the company remains committed to its long-term strategy.

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