Gemini’s clean chat interface may not remain ad-free for long

The Gemini app has long been a haven from the constant chaos of the modern web. There were no banners or sponsored snippets. Now, that clean interface is about to change. A Google executive suggests the company isn’t ruling out ways to make money from its flagship AI assistant.

During the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call on Wednesday, Google Chief Business Officer Philip Schindler confirmed that the company is ready to offer advertising in the standalone Gemini app. business insider Report. However, for now, Google is in no rush. But Schindler said that if an ad format works in Google’s new AI mode for search, it could also be used in the Gemini app.

Google already runs ads in AI overviews and is testing AI mode, a conversational search interface. The Gemini app remains ad-free, and in January, Google’s vice president of global ads told business insider There were “no plans” to change this. Three months later, the company’s position has changed to “open-minded.”

The primary reason for this change is financial, although it is presented in a positive light. Schindler said that “advertising can be really valuable and really useful business information” when implemented effectively. He also said that advertising helps products “reach billions of people” on a large scale.

This news is not very shocking. adweek Last December it was reported that Google had already told agency buyers about plans for Gemini ad placements in 2026.

It’s worth noting that Gemini already offers paid subscriptions. Google recently announced a total of 350 million customers in its bundles. Still, this may not be enough to keep the chatbot ad-free, especially since OpenAI is now showing ChatGPT ads to free users.