AI Max for Search Readiness Checker: should you switch it on?
Answer 14 questions and get a readiness score, a verdict and the AI Max settings to use.
- Free to use
- Runs in your browser
- No sign-up
Our checklist, based on Google's AI Max help pages. It is not a Google score, and Google may change these controls.
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About the AI Max for Search Readiness Checker
AI Max for Search finds new searches, adapts ad text and picks landing pages for you, which works when tracking and guardrails are in place. Answer 14 quick questions about one campaign and get our readiness score, a verdict and a plan for each AI Max control, from search term matching to brand and URL exclusions. Copy the plan as a checklist.
How it works
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Step 1
Answer the questions about one Search campaign: conversion tracking, bidding, budget, brand, landing pages, setup and negative keywords.
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Step 2
See your readiness score and verdict (Ready, Ready with guardrails, or Fix these first) with the reasons behind it.
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Step 3
Follow the settings plan for each AI Max control, then copy it as a checklist or download it for your account or your agency.
What AI Max changes
AI Max for Search adds three features to a Search campaign: search term matching, which reaches searches beyond your keywords; text customization, which adapts ad text using your site and ads; and final URL expansion, which can send people to a more relevant page. Brand, URL and location controls keep it within bounds.
Why tracking and bidding come first
AI Max relies on conversion-based bidding to judge which new searches are worth paying for. Google says search term matching does not work with Manual CPC, and if soft actions such as button taps are primary conversions, the campaign learns to find people who tap buttons rather than customers.
What this checker cannot do
It does not connect to your Google Ads account, so it cannot see your search terms, conversion data or policy status, and the score is our checklist, not a Google metric. AI Max settings and dates change; we check them against Google Ads Help, but confirm in your account before switching anything on.
Frequently asked questions
What is AI Max for Search campaigns?
AI Max is a set of features for Google Search campaigns. Search term matching uses broad match and keywordless technology to reach searches beyond your keywords, text customization adapts ad text, and final URL expansion chooses the most relevant landing page. Brand inclusions and exclusions, URL exclusions and locations of interest set the limits.
Was my campaign upgraded to AI Max automatically?
If it used the campaign-level broad match setting or automatically created assets, Google says it was upgraded during September 2026, and broad match campaigns moved with search term matching switched on. Dynamic Search Ads campaigns follow from February 2027. Open the campaign settings to see which AI Max features are on, and set them to match your plan.
Does AI Max work with Manual CPC?
Not fully. Google's AI Max FAQ says search term matching does not work with Manual CPC, and recommends a conversion or conversion value-based bid strategy such as Maximise conversions, Target CPA or Target ROAS. Move to one of those, with real leads or sales as primary conversions, before you rely on AI Max.
How do I stop AI Max showing ads for competitor brands?
Add those brands as brand exclusions at campaign level; brand lists also catch misspellings that negative keywords can miss. If you run a separate brand campaign, exclude your own brand in your other campaigns and fence the brand campaign with brand inclusions, so each search lands in the right place. Keep negative keywords for other searches you never want.
Can AI Max ads show in AI Overviews?
Google says Search campaigns using broad match or AI Max are eligible to show ads in AI Overviews and AI Mode. In India, ads inside AI Overviews show for English searches, and Google does not show them there for sensitive categories such as healthcare and finance. You cannot target the placement or opt out of it separately.
Sources and checks
Rules last checked
The AI Max for Search Readiness Checker follows these official pages:
- How AI Max for Search campaigns works (support.google.com)
- Set up AI Max for Search campaigns (support.google.com)
- AI Max for Search campaigns FAQ (support.google.com)
- About ads and AI Overviews (support.google.com)
Scores, limits and suggestions marked "our checklist", "our measure" or "our suggestion" are ours, not Google's or the platform's. How our tools work
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