AI Advertising Market: AI Ads Don't Build Brand Trust; Reviews and UGC Do

New research from Bazaarvoice, co-authored by Kiri Masters, reveals that 54% of consumers believe that seeing a brand advertised in an AI tool makes it more likely to be recommended by that tool, a perception that undermines trust in AI ad placements. The study, surveying over 3,600 adults across the US, EMEA, and Australia in June, also found that 62% have used AI to shop, and that shoppers verify AI recommendations through other channels: 76% seek photos/video reviews, 75% read written reviews, and many visit the brand's website (68%), social media (65%), or retailer sites (58%). The article argues that while platforms like OpenAI state ads do not influence its responses, consumer skepticism persists. Therefore, AI ads currently cannot serve as a trust-building mechanism; instead, brands must ensure rich review content and user-generated content are accessible to both consumers and AI crawlers.