Google has unveiled a new suite of Gemini-powered advertising innovations for Indian businesses at Google Marketing Live 2026, introducing AI-driven tools across Search, YouTube, campaign management and measurement to help marketers improve efficiency and drive business growth.
Positioning Gemini as the engine powering its advertising ecosystem, Google said the latest solutions are designed to help brands move beyond marketing automation towards “marketing intelligence.” The company highlighted that 93% of consumer journeys involving the discovery of new products or services include Google and YouTube, while 86% of surveyed online Indians use either Google Search or YouTube.
Among the key announcements was Business Agent for Leads, a Gemini-powered beta feature for Search in India that places an AI-powered brand agent within ads, allowing consumers to interact with businesses directly. The tool is designed to answer queries in real time, qualify leads and help sales teams focus on high-intent prospects. UpGrad is among the early adopters testing the feature.
For YouTube advertisers, Google introduced YouTube BrandStack, an automated campaign solution conceptualised and built in India that combines campaign planning, buying and measurement. Axis Max Life Insurance was the first brand to deploy the solution alongside YouTube Connected TV, resulting in an 18.4% increase in brand searches and 23% quality leads, according to Google. The company also announced YouTube Affiliate Partnerships Boost, enabling brands to amplify creator videos featuring tagged products through advertising campaigns.
Google also expanded its AI-powered campaign offerings with AI Max for Shopping, which uses Merchant Center data to improve campaign performance, and AI Brief, a Gemini-powered beta feature that lets advertisers guide AI Max for Search campaigns using conversational prompts. Additional updates include Retention Only Mode in Performance Max, new Demand Gen capabilities with Google Maps inventory, and Merchant Center product video integration.
On the creative front, Google upgraded Asset Studio, enabling marketers to generate text, image and video assets using natural language prompts, while also supporting uploads of marketing briefs, reference images and brand guidelines. For measurement, the company announced the integration of Meridian, its open-source marketing mix model, into Google Analytics 360 and introduced a new Attributed Branded Searches metric to measure how YouTube ads influence branded search activity.
Google also unveiled Ask Advisor, a Gemini-powered assistant that works across Google Ads, Google Analytics, Google Marketing Platform and Merchant Center to provide personalised recommendations. Looking ahead, the company said it will roll out AI performance insights in Merchant Center to help brands understand how their products perform across AI surfaces, including AI Mode, AI Overviews and the Gemini app.
“With 86% of surveyed online Indians turning to Google Search and YouTube 2 , Indian businesses have a tremendous opportunity to meet consumers where they are—and we are enabling that with Gemini,” said Roma Datta Chobey, Managing Director, Connected Consumer Commerce, Google India. “Gemini is now the engine accelerating growth for our customers across our ads products as we move beyond marketing automation to marketing intelligence, setting the stage for the agentic era where AI acts as a true strategic growth partner.”
