Google has announced a suite of Gemini-powered advertising and marketing innovations for Indian businesses at Google Marketing Live 2026, expanding AI capabilities across Search, YouTube, commerce, creative tools and measurement.
The company said 93% of consumer journeys for discovering new products or services involve Google and YouTube, with Gemini now serving as the engine powering new opportunities for businesses across these touchpoints.
Among the key launches is Business Agent for Leads, currently in beta in India, which places an AI-powered brand agent within Search ads to answer customer queries and generate qualified leads. Built with Gemini, the solution is designed to help businesses engage potential customers through conversational interactions. Edtech platform upGrad is among the early testers of the feature.
Google also introduced YouTube BrandStack, an automated campaign planning, buying and measurement solution conceptualised and built in India. The product aims to help brands integrate storytelling and performance campaigns on YouTube.
Axis Max Life Insurance, one of the early adopters of Google's latest ad solutions, reported significant performance gains after deploying AI Max, Performance Max and YouTube BrandStack.
Sameer Jain, CVP and Head – Ecommerce, Axis Max Life Insurance, said, "We have been leveraging the full suite of Google ad solutions across Search and YouTube. Deploying AI Max and Performance Max on Search fundamentally altered our performance trajectory, driving a phenomenal 43% higher business growth. On YouTube, deploying YouTube BrandStack alongside Connected TV allowed us to achieve massive scale and frequency while driving tangible business impact. This digital-first approach delivered a sharp 18.4% surge in brand search queries and captured 23% high-quality leads in our test markets. YouTube has proven to be an indispensable engine for driving both brand resonance and measurable business uplift."
Commenting on the launches, Roma Datta Chobey, Managing Director, Connected Consumer Commerce, Google India, said, "With 86% of surveyed online Indians turning to Google Search and YouTube, Indian businesses have a tremendous opportunity to meet consumers where they are—and we are enabling that with Gemini. Gemini is now the engine accelerating growth for our customers across our ads products as we move beyond marketing automation to marketing intelligence, setting the stage for the agentic era where AI acts as a true strategic growth partner."
Google also expanded its commerce offerings by introducing YouTube Affiliate Partnerships Boost, enabling brands to amplify creator-led shopping content. The company added Tira Beauty to its YouTube Shopping merchant network, alongside Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa and Purplle.
Other announcements included AI Max for Shopping, AI Brief for Search campaigns, Retention Only Mode in Performance Max, expanded Demand Gen capabilities with Google Maps inventory, enhanced Asset Studio for AI-generated creatives, Meridian integration with Google Analytics 360, and Ask Advisor, an AI-powered assistant designed to provide marketers with personalised recommendations across Google's advertising platforms.
Google also introduced new Merchant Center capabilities that provide AI performance insights and conversational product attributes, aimed at helping merchants improve visibility across AI-powered experiences such as AI Mode, AI Overviews and the Gemini app.
