If there is one takeaway from Marketing Live 2025, courtesy of Google, it’s this:
AI is no longer just your assistant. It’s your co-pilot, strategy, and yes—we’re aware it’s kind of flexing.
At Webnonline we tuned in looking for AI updates—and Google came through with that and more. We saw everything from the creative tools that took your static image and added movement, to campaign copilots that basically manage your ads for you. It was a show and tell of what success looks like in the world of marketing automation.
Let’s simplify the biggest highlights without all the shiny buzzword bloat, and why this matters to the next campaign you’re running.
Table of Contents
Ads Are Now Being Served Inside AI Overviews
There once was a time when ads only existed at the top of the page in a search. Now they live inside AI Overviews on desktop, and now showing up in AI Mode. It’s a way for your brand to connect potential customers the moment they start to explore, opposed to when they are ready to buy.
An even better update?
While this was met with skepticism from professionals alike—to learn that if you’re already activated on Performance Max, Shopping, broad match Search campaigns, you already qualify! No need to strategize or come up with checklists.
Let’s be real: This is like a VIP access pass to the most relevant part of your audience’s search journey. Why not take advantage of it?
Your Images Just Got Hollywood Makeover
We all wish static product images were capable of more than just doing their job, right?
Well Google’s new cinematic AI tools are like your director you never knew you had!
With the Veo model your still photos become dynamic videos. It’s already in Merchant Center and rolling into Google Ads soon. As well as AI outpainting is expanding videos into rich immersive visuals—like storytelling, without needing a film crew.
All of this happens in the new and improved Asset Studio in which in seconds you’ll be able to create branded visuals that looks like you spent top-dollar and not the small price tag you were billowing for the creator.
Everyday example: You’re basically giving your product images an espresso shot and a film degree!
Smart Bidding Just Got… Even Smarter
Introducing Smart Bidding Exploration—Google’s new way to uncover hidden demand.
Let’s say someone’s Googling “how to choose a home.” Now getting in front of that doesn’t lead to conversion readiness… yet. But with flexible ROAS targets all enabled, your campaign can now tap into early-stage search behavior and start warming those interested early on.
This doesn’t mean you’re throwing spaghetti at the wall. Google is now allowing AI to help find the doorways we can’t see, in the maze of search behavior.
Did you ever miss a lead because we don’t match the keywords in that search? This update will help alleviate that.
In the End, Insights You Actually Want
Google’s new testing and measurement tools give you more clarity—without the creepy part.
With privacy-first analytics, smarter cross-channel data, and easier incrementality testing, we marketers can finally figure out what’s working and why—without the hair-pulling uncertainty of attribution.
And, Data Manager now lets you easily and securely activate first-party data across platforms—because why in the world collect all that information if you aren’t going to use it intelligently?
Let me ask you this—are you still guessing which channel is really pulling its weight?
AI Agents That Do Instead of Just Suggest
This one’s a game changer.
Google Ads and Analytics now have agents that are AI powered that don’t only give you advice but also take action.
Picture this; AI that builds themed ad groups, finds new keywords, writes copy, then makes some bid tweaks. Now imagine that AI working alongside a “data expert” agent that highlights trends and flags problems before you even ask. Not a tool, a teammate.
We piloted internally at Webnonline—and let’s just say; like having an intern who doesn’t complain about lunch not being provided.
Chrome Now Has A Marketing Assistant Built In
Meet the Marketing Advisor—Google’s new AI sidekick, right in Chrome.
It connects with your Google Ads account to help you manage campaigns in real time—directly in your browser. Missing conversion tags? Sure. Bid tweaks? No problem. New campaigns recommendations? All done.
Analogy time—it’s like Clippy from back in the day…. But one that actually helps.
Bonus Round: Smaller Updates With a Big Punch
Product Studio now auto-generates ideas based on real-time trends—titles, campaign angles, product offers. Imagine brainstorming with an AI with an eye on the news and your product catalog.
Merchant Center is turning into a full-on content HQ where you can change product visuals, update brand profiles, and manage content across web, Youtube, and socials.
Heck, even Google’s immersive video ads are being tested, which might blend TikTok-style discovery with direct shopping. Yes. Yes. Watch, scroll, buy.
So... Where Does This Leave Us?
AI isn’t something in the future anymore—it’s happening now, in tools you are already using—or should be. And if you haven’t noticed, with these updates, Google is not only making advertising more powerful—actually giving you the chance to act quicker, adapt smarter, and feel more confident with your competition.
At Webnonline, we are already starting to incorporate these tools into the way we plan and manage campaigns for clients—who are we kidding—a smart marketer would. If AI can help us plan better, create quicker, and convert more why in the world would we not use these tools.
