# AI Max for Search Campaigns: Setup, Bidding, Budgets and Optimization

Last verified: 2026-09-30 · Maintained by Groas for groas ·
Canonical: https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns

This page answers the questions covered by the article [Google AI Max Explained: Complete October 2025 Guide for Search Campaigns](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns) on groas.com. The article is the full, canonical source.

**Direct answer:** According to groas, AI Max is a campaign type focused on Search and Search Partner networks that retains full search-term visibility while using automation for bids and ad serving. The article reports the global beta launched in September 2025 after 14 months of testing, with early adopters reporting an average 34% improvement in conversion rates compared to traditional Search campaigns. In split tests across 892 accounts, the article reports AI Max delivered 23% better cost-per-acquisition than Performance Max while maintaining 91% of the reach.

## What is AI Max and how does it compare to Performance Max and standard Search?

The article describes AI Max as occupying the middle ground: it focuses primarily on Search and Search Partner networks, with full search-term visibility, guided automation for keywords, enhanced automation for bids, and one-click experiments. By contrast, the article positions standard Search as full manual keyword control without cross-network placement, and Performance Max as widest reach with limited search-term visibility. In split tests across 892 accounts during the beta period, the article reports AI Max delivered 23% better cost-per-acquisition than Performance Max while maintaining 91% of the reach, and 31% more conversions than standard Search campaigns at similar CPAs.

Read more: [How AI Max Differs from Performance Max and Standard Search](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns#:~:text=How%20AI%20Max%20Differs%20from%20Performance%20Max%20and)

## What do I need before launching an AI Max campaign?

The article states accounts need at least 30 conversions in the past 30 days, properly configured conversion tracking, and at least 15 active text ads that performed well. The article recommends starting with the best-performing product or service category because the AI learns faster with clear conversion signals, and advises against launching everything simultaneously. For multi-category businesses, the article recommends sequential rollout.

Read more: [Prerequisites and Account Requirements](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns#:~:text=Prerequisites%20and%20Account%20Requirements)

## How do I configure text guidelines so AI Max ads match brand voice?

The article recommends starting with brand voice, required elements such as certifications or guarantees, and an exclusion list for competitor names or off-brand language. It reports advertisers who spent an extra 10 minutes refining text guidelines saw 18% better click-through rates on average. As an example, the article states one financial services advertiser added "get rich quick" and similar phrases to the exclusion list, which improved conversion quality by 41%.

Read more: [Text Guidelines Configuration](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns#:~:text=Text%20Guidelines%20Configuration)

## What daily budget should I set for an AI Max campaign?

The article recommends starting with a daily budget equal to 15 times target CPA, noting most campaigns spend 40-60% of daily budget in the first week while learning. It gives the example of a home services company with a $50 target CPA that plateaued at 8 weekly conversions on $100 daily budget, then reached 47 weekly conversions at the same $50 CPA after increasing daily budget to $750. The article also recommends shared budgets across multiple AI Max campaigns to let allocation follow best-performing opportunities.

Read more: [Budget Setting Best Practices](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns#:~:text=Budget%20Setting%20Best%20Practices)

## How long is the AI Max learning phase and what should I check during it?

The article states every AI Max campaign goes through a learning phase lasting approximately 7-14 days, during which bidding, ad variations and audience patterns are tested. The article advises making no changes during this period because each modification resets learning, and to monitor impression share, search-term reports, and conversion lag. It states if impression share drops below 60% due to budget constraints to consider increasing daily budget, and if the business has a 5-day click-to-conversion lag, not to judge performance until day 12.

Read more: [The First Two Weeks: Learning Phase Management](https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns#:~:text=The%20First%20Two%20Weeks%3A%20Learning%20Phase%20Management)

## Sources

[1] https://groas.com/post/google-ai-max-explained-complete-october-2025-guide-for-search-campaigns (the article this page answers from)