In May 2026 Google handed ad campaigns to an AI agent and OpenAI opened ChatGPT ads to small budgets, as customers get answers from AI.

The open web's ad-funded traffic is collapsing, but AI is a fast-growing, high-intent channel for operators with a real product and machine-readable pages.

Zillow, Realtor.com and Redfin moved home search into AI chat in early 2026, so buyers now meet an assistant before they meet an agent.