Google has introduced a new disclosure system in its "My Ad Center" that identifies advertisements created or edited using its generative AI tools. Users can now view, report, or block these ads across Google Search, YouTube, and Google Discover by selecting the "About this ad" menu. While Google automatically labels content generated by its own suite of AI advertising tools, advertisers using third-party software must manually apply these disclosures.
How Google’s AI Ad Disclosure Works
The new feature provides transparency by showing a "Created or edited with AI" label under the "How this ad was created" section in Google’s ad management interface.
In specific regions, including the European Union, India, and New York, these labels appear directly on the advertisements themselves.
Consistency Across Digital Platforms
Meta, for instance, utilizes an "AI info" label within its "About this ad" transparency tool to notify users when media has been digitally altered or generated.
Beyond advertising, Google has expanded the integration of technical standards like C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) and its own SynthID watermarking technology. These tools are designed to embed metadata into files, allowing platforms to detect and label AI-generated images and audio.
Key Takeaways for Users and Advertisers
- Visibility: Users can access the disclosure by clicking the three-dot menu on an ad and selecting "About this ad."
- Manual vs. Automatic: Google automatically applies the label to ads built with its own internal generative tools, but advertisers using external AI software are responsible for self-disclosing through Google’s manual labeling options.
- Control: The interface provides a direct mechanism for users to report or block ads that they believe are misleading or improperly labeled.