It's not you - that push is entirely driven by internal Google KPIs. Every rep I've dealt with lately has had a quarterly target tied to AI Max adoption, and the scripts they're reading are almost identical. They'll frame it as "improving performance" but it's really about hitting their own conversion rate for the new product line.
From a technical standpoint, AI Max works fine for some broad campaigns, but for local businesses with tight geo-targeting and manual bidding structures, it's a blunt instrument. The model tends to overspend on low-intent impressions and can't replicate the nuance of a well-structured location extension + bid adjustment setup.
I've had clients push back and the rep actually admitted "we need to hit 80% adoption in this region by month end." So yes - it's a bonus chase, not a performance recommendation. If you want to hold your ground, just keep declining with a clear note that your campaigns are manually managed and your metrics don't justify the switch. They can't force it, they just make it sound urgent.
