Snapchat adds AI conversational ads to its app
▼ Summary
– Snapchat is rolling out “AI Sponsored Snaps,” allowing users to interact with brands’ AI agents directly in the Chat tab.
– Users can now ask questions and get recommendations from these ads, a feature not previously available.
– Over 500 million users have messaged Snapchat’s AI chatbot since 2023, indicating community openness to AI.
– Brands can use their own AI agents on the platform to engage Snapchat’s nearly one billion monthly active users.
– The new format builds on existing Sponsored Snaps, which have shown 22% more conversions and nearly 20% lower cost per action.
Snapchat has announced the launch of AI Sponsored Snaps, a new ad format that lets users interact directly with brand-operated AI agents within the app’s Chat tab. Unlike previous static sponsored messages, these ads now respond to user questions, offer personalized recommendations, and facilitate real-time decision-making.
While the move introduces AI-powered advertising into yet another corner of the social platform, it may not be welcomed by all users. Privacy concerns and growing fatigue with hyper-targeted marketing could dampen enthusiasm. Still, Snapchat argues that its community is already accustomed to conversational AI. According to the company, over half a billion users have messaged its in-app AI chatbot since its 2023 debut, signaling readiness for deeper AI integration.
“Conversation is becoming the most valuable real estate in advertising,” said Ajit Mohan, Snap’s Chief Business Officer, in a blog post. “AI is accelerating that shift, turning chat into the place where people discover products, ask questions, and make decisions in real time. The real opportunity isn’t just putting ads into those environments, it’s designing formats that feel native to how people already talk.”
For brands, the new format unlocks access to Snapchat’s nearly one billion monthly active users. Companies can deploy their own AI agents directly into user chats to drive engagement and purchases. Snapchat reports that its existing Sponsored Snaps already deliver 22% more conversions at nearly 20% lower cost per action, and the interactive AI layer is expected to amplify those results.
The company highlights that 85% of users regularly engage with the Chat feed, and that over 950 billion chats were sent in Q1 2026 alone. Among teen users, 57% message others daily, with 4 in 10 doing so multiple times a day. By embedding brand interactions into this high-engagement space, Snapchat aims to make advertising feel less intrusive and more like a natural part of the conversation.
(Source: TechCrunch)
