Should You Still Run Google Ads in 2026?

Short answer: Yes, but with eyes open — it's evolving fast, not dying.

The Real Concern You're Pointing To

93% of AI Mode queries end without a single click to an external website. And paid CTR for queries with AI Overviews dropped from 19.70% to 6.34% between June 2024 and September 2025. That's a real, measurable hit — especially for informational queries. Digital Applied TeamSearch Influence

But Google Isn't Losing Ad Revenue

Google Search delivered double-digit revenue growth, and new features like AI Overviews and AI Mode are performing well. So Google is actively monetizing AI search — it isn't abandoning ads. sec

In fact, ads now appear at the bottom of approximately 25.5% of AI Overview SERPs — up from roughly 3% in January 2025, a 394% year-over-year increase. Digital Applied Team

What's Changing for Advertisers

• Informational queries are becoming less valuable. If someone asks "what is performance marketing," AI answers it without a click. Ads here are less effective.

• Transactional and high-intent queries still work. Transactional and high-intent searches remain less affected because users still need to take action beyond the AI answer. Search Influence

• Brand visibility matters more than ever. When a brand was cited in the AI Overview, paid CTR was 91% higher than when the brand was not cited. Being known builds both organic AI mentions AND paid performance. Search Influence