Google’s ad safety efforts are getting a boost from artificial intelligence. The company’s latest annual ad safety report shows how AI is helping to keep its ad ecosystem safe. In 2023, the focus was on how generative AI was changing the game. Now, it’s clear that AI is not just a challenge, but also a key tool in the fight against ad scams.
AI-Powered Ad Safety
Google’s AI models are getting better at spotting patterns that indicate scams. These models need less data than traditional systems, so Google can act fast against new threats. In the last year, Google made over 50 improvements to these models, making them more accurate. As a result, 97% of the bad pages Google acted on in 2024 were caught by its AI models. This has sped up the review process and stopped bad content from making money.
One big problem Google faced was ads that used AI to fake public figures. Scammers used fake images and audio to make their scams look real. Google formed a team of over 100 experts to tackle this issue. They were able to cut complaints about this type of scam by 90% by permanently suspending over 700,000 advertiser accounts.
Prevention is Key
Google is not just reacting to scams; it’s also taking steps to prevent them. Its AI tools help spot repeat offenders and stop their ads from reaching people. In 2024, Google suspended over 39.2 million accounts, most before they even posted an ad. Verifying the identity of advertisers has also been crucial. Now, over 90% of ads on Google come from verified advertisers, and this program is available in over 200 countries.
Some key stats from Google’s 2024 report include:
- Over 5.2 billion ads removed
- Over 9.1 billion ads restricted
- Over 39.2 million advertiser accounts suspended
- Action taken on over 1.3 billion publisher pages and 220,000 websites
- Over 30 updates to ad and content policies
In total, Google blocked or removed 415 million ads and suspended over 5 million accounts in 2024 for breaking its ad policies. As technology continues to evolve, Google is committed to using innovation and collaboration to keep the online experience safe.