Google folds Display Ads into AI-first Demand Gen platform

Google has integrated Display Ads into its AI-driven Demand Gen platform, marking the end of the traditional digital advertising model. The Google Display Network (GDN), in use for two decades, has been a key tool for marketers to target audiences and test ads. Now, marketing teams must shift from manual control to reliance on Google's AI. The Demand Gen platform operates differently from the traditional GDN, requiring advertisers to define business objectives and upload creative assets. Google's AI tests these assets in various combinations, allowing them to appear as video ads within content or interactive posts.