{"id":2839,"date":"2026-08-29T04:52:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T04:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmarketertayeeb.com\/blog\/google-ai-max-testing-planning-tools-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T07:59:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T07:59:30","slug":"google-ai-max-testing-planning-tools-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmarketertayeeb.com\/blog\/google-ai-max-testing-planning-tools-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Google AI Max Exact-Match Prioritization: September 2026 Migration Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google\u2019s current AI Max Help says broad keywords are no longer treated as exact match for prioritisation when campaign-level broad match is turned off or a campaign moves to AI Max. If preserving the former setting\u2019s priority for selected terms matters, Google says to add exact-match copies to the new AI Max campaign. Converting a broad keyword to exact removes its historical keyword stats; if standard AI Max exact-match prioritisation is acceptable, no copy action is needed. Google\u2019s Help page states the rule<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a configuration and measurement decision, not a performance result. Google\u2019s published September migration dates have passed, but a rollout schedule does not show whether a specific campaign changed. Check the campaign\u2019s current state before acting. Google\u2019s migration notice<\/a> separates the September phase from the later Dynamic Search Ads migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

What the new AI Max rule changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the campaign-level broad-match setting is turned off or a campaign moves to AI Max, a broad keyword no longer receives the setting\u2019s former exact-like priority just because its wording matches the query. This is a change to prioritisation, not a statement that broad match cannot match the query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google says to add exact-match copies in the new AI Max campaign when the earlier priority is important. If the account prefers standard exact-match prioritisation in AI Max, no special copy action is required. Google\u2019s Help page<\/a> gives both choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a choice, not a universal recommendation. Use exact-match copies only for terms whose routing or governance makes the extra objects worthwhile. The right path depends on the account\u2019s brand\/non-brand structure, measurement plan and reason for enabling AI Max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the September timing matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Google\u2019s 12 August 2026 Developer Blog divided the legacy migrations into phases. Phase 1 was scheduled to roll out progressively from 1 to 30 September 2026 for Search campaigns using campaign-level broad match or standalone automatically created assets; that announced window has elapsed. Phase 2 for Dynamic Search Ads is scheduled for February 2027. Do not treat either date as evidence that a particular account has already changed. Google\u2019s migration notice<\/a> gives the announced timetable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same notice says Google blocked creation of new legacy campaign-level broad-match configurations and legacy automatically created assets across the UI, Google Ads Editor and the API from 3 August 2026. Existing campaigns still need an inventory. A published window is a schedule, not an account-level migration record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI Brief languages and reporting: keep the timelines separate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On 23 September 2026, Google said the closed beta of AI Brief was expanding to Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Google describes AI Brief as a way to give AI Max context about a business, audience and key messaging. The post does not announce general availability or a change to Search campaign language targeting. Treat these as beta languages, not as proof that every advertiser can use them. Read Google\u2019s announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reporting has a separate timeline. Current Google Ads Help documents a Search terms and ad combinations<\/em> view, formerly called Search terms and landing pages from AI Max<\/em>. The view lists search terms, headlines, landing pages, campaigns and ad groups. Google had already announced headlines and URLs in Search terms reporting when it introduced AI Max for Search campaigns in May 2025. The current reporting Help page<\/a> documents that view, and Google\u2019s May 2025 launch post<\/a> records the earlier reporting update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 23 September 2026 post separately announces a new unified view linking search terms, creative assets and landing pages, with additional details and availability promised later in 2026. Neither that announcement nor the current reporting Help page explains whether the feature expands, replaces or renames the currently documented view, or whether it covers the same assets. Keep that relationship and account-specific access unknown; do not present the announcement as an available-now feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a migration check, connect the exact-copy or standard-priority decision to the search term, match source, headline and landing page where the current report exposes them. Save the date range and filters. Google warns that filtering the Search terms report for match type \u201cAI Max\u201d can omit \u201cOther search terms,\u201d so the filtered view is not a complete account export. A report can help trace a path; it does not prove incremental performance. Google\u2019s reporting guidance<\/a> describes the filter limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two valid prioritisation choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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