Summary
The ad groups convert to standard ad groups using responsive ads. The upgrade happens in place inside the existing Search campaign, so the campaign ID, budget and conversion history stay intact and Smart Bidding keeps its learning. Your DSA targets and page feeds stop driving delivery, so check the RSA assets and URL controls straight after switching.
Nitin Batra is a Google Ads Search certified professional who manages live Search campaigns and has handled Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max upgrades on active accounts.
Last updated: August 22, 2026
When a business voluntarily upgrades from Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max for Search, the existing dynamic ad groups convert to standard ad groups using responsive search ads, keeping the campaign, budget and history intact.
- The ad groups remain the same but with higher bids.
- The ad groups are paused and moved to a separate account.
- The ad groups convert to standard ad groups using responsive ads.
- The ad groups are deleted and replaced with new campaigns.
The correct answer is: The ad groups convert to standard ad groups using responsive ads.
Key Takeaways
- – During a voluntary upgrade from Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max for Search, the existing dynamic ad groups convert to standard ad groups using responsive search ads.
- – The campaign itself is not rebuilt. Campaign ID, budget, bidding strategy and conversion history stay in place, so Smart Bidding keeps its learning.
- – AI Max is a setting inside an existing Search campaign, not a separate campaign type, which is why the upgrade happens in place rather than through a new build.
- – A common mistake is assuming DSA page feeds and dynamic ad targets keep working after the upgrade. They no longer drive matching, so review your RSA assets, brand inclusions and URL controls right after switching.
Where do I turn on AI Max for an existing Search campaign?
Open the campaign, go to Settings, and look for the AI Max section within the Search campaign settings. You will find controls for search term matching and asset optimisation including final URL expansion and text customisation. You can enable it on an existing campaign without creating a new one.
Do my Dynamic Search Ads headlines disappear after the upgrade?
No. The dynamic headline behaviour carries over through text customisation inside the responsive search ads, so Google can still generate headlines from your landing page content. Your existing RSA headlines and descriptions remain in the ad group and continue serving. Review the asset list after conversion so you know what is manually written and what is being generated.
What happens to my DSA page feeds and dynamic ad targets?
They stop being the mechanism that decides which pages serve. AI Max uses final URL expansion across your site or a defined set of pages instead of DSA targets. If you relied on page feed labels to restrict crawling to certain URLs, set up equivalent URL controls or exclusions in AI Max before you upgrade.
Will my performance history and Smart Bidding learning reset after upgrading?
The campaign keeps its ID and historical conversion data, so bidding does not start from zero. That said, the query matching changes, so you should expect a short adjustment period while the system tests new search terms. Watch the Search Terms report and your CPA or ROAS for the first two to three weeks before making bid or budget changes.