AD Tech Watch #14: OpenAI’s Cheaper GPT-6.1 Terra, AI Overviews Pass 80%, Google’s UGC Spam Advice

AD Tech Watch is our short, selected roundup of the AI, search and software news that matters to businesses in Nigeria, explained in plain English. In this issue: OpenAI has launched GPT-6.1 Terra at half the API price of the model it replaces, new data suggests AI Overviews now appear on over 80% of Google searches, Google has updated its advice on keeping user-generated spam out of Search, and Google Ads now offers 1-click AI Max experiments.

Issue #14 · 28 October 2026 · By AD Technologies Limited, an AI technology company in Lagos

1. OpenAI Launches GPT-6.1 Terra, a Cheaper Model for Everyday Work

What happened: OpenAI released GPT-6.1 Terra on 26 October 2026, describing it as “a fast, efficient model” that combines visual reasoning with computer use, BleepingComputer reported. It is rolling out to Plus, Pro, Enterprise and Edu users in ChatGPT Work and Codex, and to developers through the API as gpt-6.1-terra. API pricing is $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens, which OpenAI says is 50% lower than GPT-5.6 Terra, the version it replaces. OpenAI also says Terra performs on par with GPT-6 Astra at a tenth of the price per token and finishes tasks over three times faster; these are OpenAI’s own figures, not independent tests. OpenAI still recommends GPT-6.1 Sol or GPT-6 Astra for the most complex coding work. The reports did not mention access for free ChatGPT users.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: OpenAI is aiming Terra at routine office work such as drafting proposals, filling in forms and reading technical drawings, so paying ChatGPT users should test it on the repetitive jobs their team does every week. If your business runs a chatbot, WhatsApp assistant or internal tool on OpenAI’s API, a 50% lower price than the model it replaces could cut your monthly dollar bill, which matters when you are paying in dollars from naira. Test it on a sample of real customer questions before switching everything over, and check that answers about your prices, delivery areas and policies stay accurate. Access for free ChatGPT users is not confirmed.

Sources: BleepingComputer, 9to5Mac, OpenAI News.

2. AI Overviews Now Appear on Most Google Searches, Data Suggests

What happened: Search Engine Roundtable reported on 26 October 2026 that AI Overviews now appear on over 80% of Google searches, up from about 50% in June 2025, citing recent data from Semrush, SE Ranking and seoClarity. The article does not say which source gives the 80% figure. SE Ranking found AI Overviews on 82.5% of US brand searches, and seoClarity told the site it sees them on over 62% of queries, ranging from 55% to 84% by industry. These figures come from US data; the share of searches in Nigeria is not confirmed. Google’s own documentation says there are no extra requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode: a page needs to be indexed and eligible to show in Search with a snippet, and no special AI files or markup are needed.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: More of your customers’ searches, including searches for your own brand name, are likely to be answered by an AI summary before they see any website link. Make sure the facts Google’s AI can pull about you are correct and easy to find: clear service pages, prices in naira, the areas you serve and an up-to-date Google Business Profile. Do not pay for special “AI files” or markup; Google says normal SEO basics apply. Clicks from AI Overviews are counted in Search Console’s Performance report under the “Web” search type. Our guide to generative engine optimisation in Nigeria explains how to get named in these answers.

Sources: Search Engine Roundtable, SE Ranking, Google Search Central.

3. Google Updates Its Advice on Stopping User-Generated Spam

What happened: Google updated its help page “Prevent user-generated spam on your site and platform” on 26 October 2026, according to its Search Central updates log and Search Engine Roundtable. The update now covers tools that let users publish shared pages, generated content or web apps, and adds a section headed “Only index content meant for Search”. Google suggests that pages created for sharing, collaboration or utility should be kept out of Search by default, using a noindex tag or robots.txt. It also advises verifying your site in Search Console, watching the Page Indexing and Search performance reports for unexpected spikes, and setting alerts when a small number of users create a large share of indexable pages. Some SEOs asked whether this points to new manual actions against AI tools; Google has not said so.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: If your website lets people post anything, such as blog comments, forum threads, member profiles, job or property listings, or AI tool results with shareable links, spammers can use it to publish pages under your domain, and that can hurt how Google treats your whole site. On WordPress, make sure comment moderation is switched on, that user profile and internal search result pages are set to noindex in your SEO plugin, and check Search Console for sudden jumps in indexed pages you did not create. If you are not sure how your site is set up, our WordPress team can check it for you.

Sources: Search Engine Roundtable, Google Search Central updates.

4. Google Ads Offers 1-Click AI Max Experiments

What happened: Google has added a section on 1-click AI Max experiments to its FAQ for AI Max Search campaigns, Search Engine Roundtable reported on 26 October 2026. Google’s FAQ says eligible accounts “may find a 1-click experiment recommendation” on the Recommendations page. Choosing it creates a 50/50 split test that compares your existing Search campaign with a version using AI Max, with no manual setup. In the Experiments tab, advertisers can switch search term matching or asset optimisation on or off for individual ad groups in the test version, while the original campaign keeps its settings. Not every account is eligible.

What this means for Nigerian businesses: AI Max lets Google’s AI match your ads to more searches and optimise your ad assets. A 50/50 test is a safer way to find out whether that helps your business than switching it on across your whole account. If you see the recommendation, run the test on one Search campaign with steady traffic, give it a few weeks, and compare cost per enquiry or sale, not just clicks. Check the search terms report every few days so your naira budget is not spent on irrelevant searches, and review any changed ad text for wrong prices or claims. If an agency runs your account, ask them before accepting the recommendation.

Sources: Search Engine Roundtable, Google Ads Help.

Also This Week: BPP Launches Free Procurement Training for Small Businesses

The Bureau of Public Procurement unveiled a free digital training portal in Abuja on 27 October 2026 to help micro, small and medium businesses compete for government contracts, Nairametrics and The Sun reported. Built with World Bank support, it covers finding contract opportunities, preparing bids and delivering contracts, with quizzes and a certificate of completion, and is designed to work on phones with limited bandwidth. Director-General Adebowale Adedokun said completing the training does not guarantee a contract award. The reports did not give the portal’s web address, so watch the BPP website for it. Sources: Nairametrics, The Sun.

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