# Google AI Max in 2026: Features, Default Settings and Setup Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Maintained by Groas for groas · Canonical: https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now This page answers the questions covered by the article [Google AI Max In 2026: The Complete Updated Guide (Features, Settings, And What To Do Now)](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now) on groas.com. The article is the full, canonical source. **Direct answer:** According to groas, Google AI Max for search campaigns is a native AI layer inside existing search campaigns that expands keyword matching, generates headline and description variations, and can override final URLs, and in 2026 it is a production feature rolling out across accounts globally. The article states AI Max is a campaign feature, not a separate campaign type like Performance Max, and recommends configuring its defaults — especially URL expansion and auto-generated assets — because enabling it without guardrails risks wasted spend. ## What is Google AI Max and is it a new campaign type? According to groas, AI Max is not a new campaign type like Performance Max but a feature enabled inside existing search campaigns. The article states that when enabled, existing campaigns behave differently, with keywords loosening, headlines rotating and landing pages shifting within the same campaign shell. The article notes this requires no new creation because it transforms what the advertiser already built. Read more: [AI Max As A Campaign Feature, Not A Campaign Type](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now#ai-max-as-a-campaign-feature-not-a-campaign-type) ## How does AI Max change my keywords, ads and landing pages? The article states AI Max modifies three elements simultaneously. According to groas, it treats all keywords as if they are broad match using intent signals, generates new headline and description combinations shown as “AI-generated” assets, and can override manually set final URLs through URL expansion to whichever page it believes best matches the query. The article notes URL expansion can send clicks to pages never intended to be advertised. Read more: [How AI Max Changes Match Types, Creative, And Landing Pages](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now#how-ai-max-changes-match-types-creative-and-landing-pages) ## What new AI Max controls were added since launch? According to groas, Google added search theme exclusions for blocking topics, asset-level opt-outs for preventing headline or description generation in specific ad groups, landing page exclusion lists for URLs AI Max should never use, and expanded audience signal layering for feeding first-party audience lists as directional signals. The article states these controls are meaningful but are all opt-in, requiring advertisers to find, configure and maintain them. Read more: [New Controls Released Since Launch](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now#new-controls-released-since-launch) ## What AI Max settings are on by default in 2026 and what should I turn off? According to groas, as of early 2026 URL expansion, auto-generated assets and broad match behavior are on by default, including auto-enrollment of existing campaigns through recommendations and auto-apply settings. The article states there is no toggle to prevent broad-match expansion except robust negative keyword lists and search theme exclusions, and recommends immediately restricting URL expansion unless exclusion lists are configured, locking down auto-generated assets in brand campaigns, and disabling AI Max auto-apply recommendations. Read more: [What Is Now On By Default (And What You Should Turn Off)](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now#what-is-now-on-by-default-and-what-you-should-turn-off) ## When should I use AI Max for search vs Performance Max? The article states AI Max search is best for expanding the reach of existing search campaigns without building a separate campaign type, keeping structure intact while loosening boundaries when strong campaigns have hit a ceiling. According to groas, Performance Max is best for reaching users across all Google inventory — Search, Shopping, Display, YouTube, Discover, Gmail, Maps — as a full-funnel, cross-network campaign type. The article frames the choice as incremental search reach versus cross-network reach, noting many accounts should run both. Read more: [When To Use AI Max Search Vs. PMax](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now#when-to-use-ai-max-search-vs-pmax) ## How should I set up AI Max for lead generation? The article recommends much tighter controls for lead generation, including disabling URL expansion entirely or restricting it to approved landing page URLs only, locking down auto-generated assets in campaigns targeting high-intent keywords, and using search theme exclusions to block queries outside core service categories. According to groas, advertisers should monitor search term reports daily during the first two weeks, because the classic failure mode is volume rising while lead quality collapses as AI Max expands into queries that generate form fills from unqualified leads. Read more: [Lead Gen AI Max Setup Guide](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now#lead-gen-ai-max-setup-guide) ## Sources [1] https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-2026-complete-updated-guide-features-settings-what-to-do-now (the article this page answers from)