October 2026 Google Ads Update – Automated Promotions from Your Website

Granular analysis and first look

Google Ads Will Automatically Create Promotion Assets

Beginning October 12, 2026, Google Ads may automatically identify promotions on an advertiser’s website and turn them into promotion assets.

For advertisers using Granular’s PPC management services, this is another example of Google expanding automation beyond bidding and targeting into the assets customers see with an ad.

According to Google, automated promotions can identify and validate offers from website landing pages, then display qualifying promotions alongside eligible ads. Examples could include discounts, coupons or offers such as “buy one, get one free.”

Which Campaigns Are Eligible?

The new functionality currently applies to campaigns that meet these requirements:

• Search or Performance Max campaigns
• Location assets are attached
• No manual promotion assets are currently running on the campaign
• The account complies with standard Google Ads policies

If a campaign already has a manual promotion running, Google says the automated system will bypass that campaign.

That distinction matters for advertisers who already have a structured promotional calendar. Continuing to use manually created promotion assets gives advertisers greater control over the exact promotional messaging and timing Google displays.

Why Advertisers Should Review This Setting

The potential upside is straightforward: businesses running legitimate website promotions can gain additional ad visibility without having to manually create every promotion asset.

But automation also makes website content part of the ad creation process.

Advertisers should review landing pages for outdated offers, evergreen promotional language, coupon messaging and discounts that may have special eligibility requirements. The offer that Google identifies technically may not always be the offer your marketing team would have chosen to emphasize.

This may be especially important for businesses with strict promotional approval processes, franchises, frequently changing offers or different promotions by location.

Automated Promotions Will Be On by Default

Google’s notification says eligible advertisers are being automatically opted in.

Advertisers who don’t want Google creating these assets can disable the setting at the account level. Google currently provides the following path:

1. Go to Assets in Google Ads.
2. Open Account level automated assets.
3. Select Advanced settings.
4. Find Automated promotions.
5. Change the setting to Off.

Google’s current Help Center also lists Automated Promotions as an automated asset setting that is on by default.

How to Monitor Google-Created Promotions

Advertisers who leave the feature enabled should add promotion assets to their regular account reviews.

Google says automated promotions can be found by navigating to Assets and filtering the asset type to Promotion. In the Added by column, automatically generated promotions are identified as Google AI.

Google’s advertiser notification also notes that automated assets that have served will appear in the account, while assets with zero impressions may not be visible.

One additional wrinkle: Google currently says an automated promotion is eligible to serve for less than 24 hours before being revalidated. It can then be enabled again if Google continues to confirm that the promotion remains available on the website.

Key Takeaways for PPC Advertisers

• The rollout starts October 12, 2026: Eligible advertisers may begin seeing website promotions automatically converted into ad assets.
• Search and Performance Max are affected: Campaigns must have location assets and no existing manual promotion running.
• Accounts are opted in automatically: Advertisers should review the setting rather than assume nothing has changed.
• Your website becomes an asset source: Review live promotional copy to make sure offers are accurate, current and appropriate for advertising.
• Manual promotions still provide more control: They remain the better option when exact messaging or promotional dates need to be managed closely.
• Monitor what Google creates: Review Promotion assets labeled Google AI as part of ongoing account management.

What Should Advertisers Do Before October 12?

For businesses with active promotions, the first step is to review the offers currently visible across important landing pages and confirm that they accurately represent what customers can redeem.

Next, decide whether automated sourcing fits your organization’s level of promotional control. Brands comfortable with Google identifying validated offers can leave the feature enabled and monitor performance. Advertisers requiring tighter legal, brand or promotional oversight may prefer manual promotion assets or may choose to opt out.

Either way, this shouldn’t be a “set it and forget it” feature. Google is giving advertisers another way to expand ad assets automatically, but advertisers still need to verify that what reaches customers aligns with their actual offers and marketing strategy.

As Google Ads continues to automate more pieces of campaign execution, regular asset reviews will become increasingly important. Granular’s PPC experts will continue monitoring these changes and evaluating how new automation affects campaign performance and advertiser control.