The uncertainty and cynicism that have been swirling around the AOL/Google deal are evidently important enough for some high-profile nipping in the bud. Marissa Mayer, the VP of Search Products and User Experience (formerly Director of Consumer Web Products) has posted  a "trust us" message in the Official Google Blog that clarifies some misconceptions. I can find only three other instances of Marissa Mayer posting on the blog. In this message she reassures everyone that AOL's partnership with Google will not bias search results in any way, and AOL's allowance in AdWords does not exempt it from participating in the system's auction-style competition for placement. mayer also asserts that banner ads will not appear on Google's home page or on Web search result pages. "There will not be crazy, flashy, graphical doodads flying and popping up all over the Google site. Ever." Well, that description leaves some leeway for a more modest style of graphical ad presentation, but her point is welcome nonetheless.

Mayer summarizes: "We're looking forward to what AOL can help us do for you..." That's a little opaque. It seems to me that the point of this deal was primarily to save Google's most important single licensing client, and didn't have much to do with us at all--which is fine. Oh well, harmless spin. Here's the take-away point about trust: "...you can continue to trust that we're giving you a result because it's the best one we can possibly provide." that's the core of Google's consumer trust, and Mayer is right to hammer it home in the company's most visible blog.