Google Ads AI Creative Generation: Images & Videos

Introduction

Google Ads now offers an integrated AI feature that automates the creation of ad creatives, including images and videos. This functionality allows advertisers to generate visually appealing assets directly within the platform, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with traditional design processes.

Configuration Checklist

Element	Version / Link
Language / Runtime	N/A (Google Ads platform feature)
Main library	Google Ads built-in AI
Required APIs	N/A (platform feature)
Keys / credentials needed	Google Ads account credentials

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1 — Navigate to Google Ads Dashboard

Begin by logging into your Google Ads account and accessing the main dashboard. This is the central hub for managing all your campaigns.

Step 2 — Create a New Campaign

Click on the 'Create' button in the left-hand navigation bar, then select 'Campaign'. Choose 'Create a campaign without guidance' to proceed with manual campaign setup, and then select 'Display' as the campaign type. This allows you to access the creative generation features.

Step 3 — Access Ad Creation

Within your campaign settings, navigate to the 'Ads' section. Here, you will find options to manage your ad creatives.

Step 4 — Generate Images with AI

This feature allows you to generate up to 15 images for your display ads, saving significant design time.

1. Click 'Generate Images': In the 'Images' section, click on the 'Generate Images' button.
2. Add Reference Images (Optional): You can upload up to 5 reference images of your product, people, or backgrounds. This helps the AI understand your intended style and subject matter. For example, uploading a product image will guide the AI to create creatives featuring that product.

   # No direct command, this is a UI action.
   # Click 'Add images' and select 'Upload from computer' to upload your product images.
   

3. Provide a Detailed Prompt: Describe the kind of image you want. Include details about the subject, color, style, and background. The more specific your prompt, the better the AI's output. The prompt has a character limit of 1500.

   # Example prompt for a product:
   Create a modern Google Display Advertisement featuring a premium jar of golden cow ghee as the hero product. Warm golden lighting, countryside farm background, grazing cows, natural ingredients, clean luxury branding style, photorealistic food photography. Include the following advertising text directly in the creative:
   "Pure A2 Cow Ghee"
   "Limited Time Offer"
   "Up To 15% OFF"
   "Traditional Bilona Process"
   "Shop Now"
   Use bold headline typography, premium offer badge, clear CTA button, and clean Google Display Banner layout optimized for conversions.
   

   # Example prompt for a tech product (rewritten by ChatGPT as shown in video):
   Create a premium, high-converting Google Display Advertisement featuring the Apple iPhone 17 Pro as the hero product. Showcase the device in a sleek, futuristic environment with premium lighting, elegant reflections, and a modern luxury technology aesthetic. Use photorealistic product photography highlighting the titanium finish, ultra-thin bezels, advanced camera system, and premium craftsmanship.
   Visual Style:
   Modern, minimalist, premium, luxury technology branding. Apple-inspired design language, clean composition, high-end product showcase, conversion-focused display advertising.
   Background:
   Subtle gradient lighting, premium studio environment, futuristic elements, soft shadows, sophisticated luxury feel, emphasizing innovation and performance.
   Include the following advertising text directly in the creative:
   "iPhone 17 Pro"
   "Limited Time Offer"
   "Up To 15% OFF"
   "Next-Generation Performance"
   "Shop Now"
   Design Requirements:
   • Bold premium headline typography
   • Eye-catching offer badge displaying "Up To 15% OFF"
   • Clear and prominent CTA button saying "Shop Now"
   • Clean Google Display Banner layout optimized for conversions
   • Strong visual focus on the iPhone 17 Pro
   • Premium luxury color palette
   • High-end eCommerce advertisement style
   • Professional retail marketing creative suitable for Google Display Network
   • Ultra-realistic product rendering with sharp details and premium reflections
   

4. Select Aspect Ratio: Choose the desired aspect ratio for your images (e.g., Horizontal, Vertical, Square). You can select 'All aspect ratios (default)' to generate images in various formats.
5. Click 'Create': The AI will generate several image options based on your input.
6. Edit and Save Images: Review the generated images. You can click 'Edit' to:
   • Replace the background.
   • Erase objects.
   • Expand the image.
   • Adjust colors.
   • Crop to different aspect ratios.
     Select the images you want to use and save them to your asset library. Note that generated images are stored for 14 days before being automatically removed, so download them if you need them long-term.

Step 5 — Generate Videos with AI

Google Ads AI can also create short video ads from your images, which is particularly useful for bumper ads (less than 6 seconds).

1. Click 'Create Video': In the 'Videos' section, click on 'Create video'.
2. Choose Video Creation Method: You can either 'Create video from images' or 'Create videos using a template'. Select 'Create video from images' for this guide.
3. Add Images for Scenes: Add at least two images to create a video. These images will form the different scenes of your video clip.

   # No direct command, this is a UI action.
   # Click on 'Scene 1', 'Scene 2', etc., to upload or select images from your asset library.
   

4. Generate Video Clips: Once you've added your images, click 'Generate video clips'. The AI will process the images and create a short video.
5. Customize and Upload Video: After generation, you can:
   • Add text overlays.
   • Select background music.
   • Add your business logo.
   • Specify your business name.
   • Adjust font family, font weight, and colors in 'Template Settings'.
     Apply your desired settings and then 'Save and upload videos' to use them in your campaigns.

⚠️ Common Mistakes & Pitfalls

1. Vague Prompts: Providing generic prompts leads to generic or irrelevant creatives. Be as descriptive as possible about the subject, style, and desired elements.
2. Ignoring Reference Images for Products: For product-specific ads, failing to upload a reference image can result in the AI generating generic backgrounds or text overlays without the actual product.
3. Exceeding Prompt Character Limit: The prompt input has a 1500-character limit. Ensure your descriptions are concise yet comprehensive.
4. Not Saving Generated Assets: Generated images are only stored for 14 days in the asset library. Download and save them externally if you plan to use them beyond this period.
5. Insufficient Images for Video Generation: To auto-generate a video clip from images, you need to provide a minimum of two images for different scenes.

Glossary

Ad Copy: The textual content of an advertisement, including headlines and descriptions.
Display Campaign: An advertising campaign type on Google Ads that delivers visual ads (images, animations, videos) across the Google Display Network.
Prompt: A specific text instruction or query provided to an AI model to guide its output generation.
Asset Library: A centralized repository within Google Ads where advertisers can store and manage their creative assets, such as images, videos, and logos.
Bumper Ad: A short, non-skippable video ad format on YouTube, typically 6 seconds or less, designed for quick brand messaging.

Key Takeaways

• Google Ads AI significantly streamlines the creation of ad creatives, saving both time and money.
• The AI can automatically generate images and videos based on your ad copy, landing page content, and specific prompts.
• For image generation, providing a detailed text prompt and optional reference images helps the AI produce highly relevant visuals.
• Generated images can be further edited within the Google Ads interface to replace backgrounds, erase objects, expand images, adjust colors, and crop to various aspect ratios.
• Video creation from images is supported, allowing users to combine multiple scenes and add text, music, and branding elements.
• All AI-generated assets are free to use within Google Ads campaigns.
• Generated assets are stored for 14 days in the asset library, requiring users to download them for long-term retention.
• This feature is particularly beneficial for display campaigns and short video formats like bumper ads, enhancing creative output and campaign performance.

Resources

• Google Ads Official Website
• ChatGPT
• WSCube Tech Performance Marketing Bootcamp