AI Search Ads Trigger Trust Crisis: 63% of Users Say Ads Reduce Trust, Where Should Foreign Trade Enterprises Go with GEO Optimization?

AI Search is Commercializing, But Users Aren't Buying It

In early 2026, the AI search field reached a significant turning point—commercial advertising was fully rolled out. OpenAI began testing ad placements in ChatGPT, and Google also embedded ads on a large scale in AI Mode and AI Overviews. However, consumer reactions poured cold water on this commercialization wave.

According to consumer tracking data released by the globally renowned market research firm Ipsos in February 2026, among 1,085 adult respondents in the U.S., 63% said that ads appearing in AI search results would reduce their trust in the results. Among them, 27% "strongly agreed," and 36% "somewhat agreed." Only 24% of respondents held a different opinion.

More notably, when asked whether ads would simplify the purchasing process, those with negative views (52%) far outnumbered those with positive views (36%). This means that AI search ads not only fail to build trust but may even increase users' decision-making burden.

Advertising Layouts of Two Giants: ChatGPT and Google AI Mode

ChatGPT's Advertising Trial

Starting in February 2026, OpenAI began displaying ads for ChatGPT free and Go version users, and reportedly is preparing to open a self-service ad placement platform. Early data shows that ChatGPT ads have a click-through rate of about 0.91%, far below Google search ads' average of 6.4%.

Google AI Mode's Deep Integration

In contrast, Google's approach is more aggressive. From launching ads in AI Overviews in October 2024 to revealing in Q4 2025 earnings that AI Mode query duration is three times that of traditional search, Google is building AI search into a deeper ad-carrying scenario.

Three Insights for Foreign Trade Enterprises' GEO Optimization

1. The Trust Value of Organic Content Will Continue to Rise

When paid ads face a trust crisis, high-quality organic content becomes a scarce resource. For foreign trade website-building enterprises, the ROI of investing in GEO optimization—optimization for generative AI search engines—will become increasingly higher. Users tend to trust content naturally cited by AI rather than recommendations labeled as ads.

2. Brand Authority Becomes the Core Competitiveness of GEO

In AI search results, cited websites are often authoritative sources in the industry. Foreign trade enterprises need to enhance their brand weight in AI models through continuous output of professional content, acquisition of high-quality backlinks, and establishment of industry thought leadership. This aligns with the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principle in traditional SEO but becomes even more critical in the GEO era.

3. Multi-Platform GEO Layout is Imperative

As multiple AI search platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity simultaneously advance advertising, users may migrate between different platforms to seek a purer search experience. Foreign trade enterprises should not put all their eggs in one basket but ensure their brand content has good visibility on mainstream AI search platforms.

Practical Advice: How Foreign Trade Enterprises Should Respond to the AI Search Advertising Trend

• Optimize Website Structured Data: Ensure product pages, FAQs, and company information have comprehensive Schema markup to help AI crawl and cite more accurately.
• Create In-Depth Industry Content: Publish high-value content such as white papers, industry reports, and case studies to increase the probability of being cited by AI.
• Monitor AI Search Citation Status: Use tools like SE Ranking to track brand citation frequency and rankings on platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini.
• Build a Multi-Language Content Matrix: Optimize content for target market languages, as AI search shows a clear preference for localized content.

01CodeTech Perspective

AI search advertising is an irreversible trend, but consumer voting-with-their-feet data indicates that trust is the most core currency in the AI search era. For foreign trade enterprises deeply engaged in overseas markets, rather than worrying about rising ad costs, it's better to focus efforts on GEO optimization and brand content building. When AI search results are flooded with ads, high-quality content naturally cited will gain unprecedented attention premium.

Now is the best time to lay out GEO optimization—seize the organic traffic high ground in AI search while competitors are still watching.

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