Sean Walsh
Sean is a Director at Intelligency heading up our digital marketing and client services operations. Sean has 15+ years experiencing working both in-house and agency with brands including Lloyds, Alstom, Hitachi, Lufthansa, Viaplay, DFDS Seaways and Mercedes-Benz.
Google has introduced a powerful new update to its ad platform, allowing businesses to generate AI-created images of people for their ads. This means advertisers can create custom lifestyle images without expensive photo shoots, making it easier to design engaging and relevant ads.
What’s new?
Google’s latest update brings AI-generated people into ads for the first time, using its Imagen 3 technology. Advertisers can now:
✅ Generate realistic images of people based on simple text prompts.
✅ Customize features like age, gender, and ethnicity.
✅ Get AI-powered suggestions for images that connect with their audience.
✅ Test different image styles to see what works best.
How does it work?
Advertisers just describe the image they want—for example, “middle-aged man chopping carrots”—and Google’s AI will create a realistic image to match. If the first result isn’t quite right, they can refine the description or request variations until they find the perfect image.
This is particularly useful for businesses that want diverse, high-quality images without the cost and time of hiring models and photographers.
Keeping it safe and ethical
Google has set clear rules to prevent misuse. AI-generated ads cannot include:
❌ Brand-name products
❌ Celebrities or politicians
❌ Children or minors
❌ Sensitive or explicit content
All AI-generated images will also be tagged with SynthID, ensuring transparency about which images were created using AI.
What else is changing?
Alongside AI-generated images, Google is introducing new tools to help businesses improve their ads:
- Audience-based recommendations – AI will suggest image styles that are likely to connect with your target audience. For example, a travel company might find that customers respond best to “ocean” or “nature” images.
- Automated creative testing – Businesses can now compare different types of ads, including AI-generated images, to see which ones perform best.
Why this matters
This update could save businesses time and money, while allowing them to experiment with different ad visuals to find what resonates most with their audience. With more control and flexibility, advertisers can create better-performing ads while keeping their creative process simple and efficient.
Google’s AI-powered tools make it easier than ever to create high-quality, engaging ads—without the hassle of traditional photoshoots. As AI technology continues to evolve, businesses that embrace these tools can gain a competitive edge in digital advertising.
