How to prepare for Google’s DSA sunset and move to AI Max

Jul 23, 2026 09:00 PM - 7 hours ago 360
AI Max changes really Google targets searches, creates ads, and selects landing pages. See what to show and power during the migration.

Google has been hinting astatine the demise of standalone Dynamic Search Ads (DSA) campaigns. At first, Performance Max seemed apt to switch DSA. However, arsenic AI Max gained traction, Google’s last URL description crossed Search emerged arsenic the nail successful DSA’s coffin. 

We were initially told that Google would automatically migrate each DSA campaigns to AI Max successful September. After considering advertiser feedback, Google announced that users tin still create DSA campaigns until January 2027, pinch automatic migration now opening successful February 2027.

DSA is simply a lifesaver for accounts pinch small non-brand hunt word data. It besides does a awesome occupation of breaking the tract into manageable chunks. When I’m mounting a move advertisement target, I tin spot really Google has categorized the tract and really overmuch of it falls into each category. 

This helps maine find really to shape non-brand search. DSA hunt word capacity has historically helped find which keywords to attraction on.

How AI Max is different

AI Max has a different setup and targeting exemplary from Dynamic Search Ads. Here are a fewer examples:

  • Core targeting signals: In standalone DSA, the website is the foundational targeting signal. In AI Max, the website is conscionable 1 of galore targeting signals, including existing keywords, advertisement copy, budget, and real-time personification intent signals.
  • Campaign architecture: Standalone DSA is simply a abstracted run type aliases advertisement group building that sits parallel to keyword campaigns, whereas AI Max for Search is different furniture connected your existing Search run structure.
  • Creative plus procreation and copywriting: With standalone DSA, Google dynamically generates a header and show URL based connected matter it crawls from your page, while the advertiser provides fixed explanation lines. AI Max for Search uses matter customization, pulling from website copy, existing advertisement assets, and the discourse of the hunt query to constitute civilization headlines and descriptions.
  • Traffic redirection: DSA campaigns are bound by circumstantial move advertisement targets. AI Max for Search leverages last URL description , truthful it tin dynamically way a personification to immoderate applicable page crossed your full domain while taking URL exclusions into account.
  • Steering guardrails and controls: While DSA run controls see antagonistic keywords and URL exclusions, AI Max for Search has precocious features specified arsenic marque inclusion and removal lists astatine the advertisement group level, geographic intent targeting, and matter guidelines.
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What should you do to adapt?

If you’re moving DSA campaigns, you person immoderate clip earlier you person to migrate. However, I urge migrating earlier the deadline truthful you person power complete the migration and post-migration period.

If you unfastened your DSA run and spell to settings, you’ll find the action to manually upgrade wrong the Dynamic Search Ads setting.

Google Ads - DSA setting

Once you click Upgrade campaign, different pop-up container will appear:

We aren’t upgrading our accounts yet, truthful I haven’t gone past this last step. Once you upgrade, however, your campaigns will behave very otherwise from the original DSA campaigns.

Review AI-generated ads and marque controls

Check your automatically created responsive hunt ads to guarantee they travel marque guidelines. AI Max offers a characteristic called Text Guidelines — aliases Guardrails — for this purpose.

These marque information controls let you to specify up to 25 hunt word exclusions and 40 messaging restrictions that Google will see erstwhile automatically creating your ads utilizing matter customization.

You tin reappraisal the assets Google creates automatically by going to Ads > Assets and navigating to Performance. Make judge you person the Added by file selected truthful you tin spot which assets were added by Google AI.

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Monitor your hunt terms 

DSA matches ads based connected website crawling, while AI Max sounds your website and factors successful further personification intent signals.

AI Max besides expands narrower keyword lucifer types utilizing wide lucifer and keywordless technology. This tin make you eligible to service for much searches, but it besides increases the chances of your ads appearing for irrelevant content. 

Watch wherever Final URL description sends traffic

If you person Final URL description enabled, intimately watch which landing pages your ads are directed to. DSA restricts postulation to your existing move advertisement targets, while Final URL description tin way users to immoderate applicable landing page connected your domain if it predicts a higher conversion likelihood. Use URL removal lists and Brand Controls to support the AI successful check.

Take power of the migration

If you’re moving DSA, you’ve sewage immoderate breathing room earlier the mandatory migration, but don’t hold for the deadline. Migrating early puts you successful power alternatively than leaving the displacement to Google’s automation.

As Google expands its usage of AI automation, paid hunt is becoming little astir pushing buttons and much astir guiding the exertion toward your goals. Understanding really AI Max useful is cardinal to that shift.

Google’s algorithms excel astatine uncovering patterns, but they deficiency the discourse of your commercialized goals, inventory challenges, and marque voice. The domiciled is evolving from run usability to business translator.

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