For two decades, Google has defined the digital advertising landscape, commanding billions in ad spend and creating an entire industry around Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM). But with AI-native search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and DeepSeek rapidly gaining adoption, the rules of digital advertising are changing.
The Shifting Landscape of Search Behavior
Consumers—especially younger generations—are increasingly moving away from Google. OpenAI recently crossed 400 million monthly active users, with reports showing that students and professionals alike are treating AI-driven search models as their go-to discovery tool. If this trajectory continues, a significant portion of the $90 billion spent on search advertising in 2023 will migrate to AI-driven platforms.
Unlike traditional search engines that return links, AI platforms provide conversational answers that synthesize information. This fundamentally changes how people discover products and services, creating new challenges for marketers who built their strategies around keyword-based search.
Every major shift in digital consumption has led to new ad ecosystems. Programmatic advertising grew out of display ads. Mobile app advertising surged alongside smartphone adoption. Now, AI search presents the next major shift, and the opportunity for an AI-native ad network is undeniable.
The Missing Link is Nexad: AI-Native Advertising
As attention moves away from traditional search, brands that built their marketing playbooks around Google’s ad model now face an existential question: How do you advertise in an AI-first world?
Enter Nexad & Intellibright, a first-of-its-kind collaboration reshaping the digital advertising space. Nexad, the first AI-native ad network, seamlessly integrates context-aware, real-time, and personalized advertising into AI-generated conversations. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Prosus, and Point72, Nexad creates ad experiences that feel natural within AI search responses—not disruptive, but additive. Their technology ensures advertisements enhance user interactions rather than interrupt them, making it the first fully AI-integrated ad solution available today.
The Role of Intellibright in the AI Ad Revolution
Just as agencies once built expertise in managing Google Ads, they must now develop skills for optimizing AI-driven ad placements. This is where Intellibright plays a critical role. As a leader in performance-driven digital marketing, Intellibright is the first agency to offer managed services for AI-native advertising, helping brands transition from traditional search to AI-powered campaigns.
Through their partnership, Intellibright works alongside Nexad to help brands scale, optimize spend, and maximize impact in AI-driven environments. By leveraging Nexad’s contextual targeting, they provide uniquely powerful insights and performance metrics that allow advertisers to harness the full potential of this new medium.
“Advertising in AI search isn’t just a trend—it’s the next fundamental shift in digital marketing,” says Michelle Matranga, Chief Digital Officer at Intellibright. “By partnering with Nexad, we’re giving advertisers first-mover advantage in an entirely new ad ecosystem.”
What Comes Next
Industry experts agree that AI search platforms will develop their own ad networks, similar to Google Ads and Meta’s ecosystem. Perplexity has already signaled its intent to monetize via ads, with OpenAI and Google Gemini expected to follow. The question isn’t if AI-driven advertising will take off—it’s who will lead the charge.
As major platforms integrate advertising capabilities, early movers will gain significant advantages. Perplexity’s monetization signals indicate this evolution is already underway, creating urgency for brands to establish their presence in this new environment.
With Nexad’s first-mover advantage and Intellibright’s optimization expertise, the industry is witnessing the birth of a new era in digital advertising that will reshape how brands engage with consumers in AI-first environments.
Conclusion
For advertisers, the message is clear: AI search is here, and the time to adapt is now. Brands that partner with pioneers like Nexad and Intellibright will be positioned at the forefront of this transformation as consumer attention continues to shift toward AI-driven discovery.