• by Laurie Sullivan , April 20, 2026

Google has once again begun experimenting with video in search results, which follows its strategy to give users a more immersive and visual format in location-based ads.

Anthony Higman, founder and CEO of Adsquire, spotted the test and shared it on LinkedIn in a post.

Higman, who owns a paid-search firm supporting the legal industry, called the ad an "immersive map view video," which ties into Google Maps Streetview and Google Ads location manager. 

In this instance, video assets are used to drive specific, measurable business goals such as store visits, calls or leads. 

"It auto plays," he told MediaPost. He added that the client running the ad is not his firm's, but that it appears to be a "live test for some advertisers."

Although Higman has not used this to run an ad for his clients, he said it is “pretty cool," adding: "I really like this one.”

The ad brings up an immersive, location-type view tied to a paid-search ad in local search, which appears at the top of Google's search engine results pages (SERPs) when a user queries information on the local business.

The listing typically consists of a map and three business listings at the top of the SERP.

Rather than a traditional static image or text-based listings, the ads provide a 3D-like immersive experience, similar to Google Maps’ Immersive View for landmarks and cities.

There also is a "hidden opt-in setting that controls the feature within Google Ads," Higman wrote in an email, adding: "Super sneaky," with pre-opt in settings that the company seems to add without informing advertisers. 

Google initially introduced video results into its search interface in May 2007 as part of its launch of Universal Search. This marked the first time that videos were integrated into Google Search alongside traditional text links.