Google Desktop Search tool - I predict AdWords will be along soon.

I've just downloaded the Google Desktop Search tool - it gives you a Google-branded search facility on your PC. What I like so far is the way the search results show you thumbnail images of the web pages you have visited that include the keywords you search for but it also searches across Excel, Outlook (including your emails), Word etc.

At the moment it is quietly scanning my whole PC and creating an index. It does this in the background and fast.

Another important feature is that none of your indexing data goes back to Google.

But it's my view that the Google Desktop Search will soon include AdWords ads and these will be subject to the same controversy that Gmail went through: if Google's content-targeting algorithm can "look" at your content to deliver targeted AdSense ads alongside your search results, Google is effectively getting access to your private documents.

Having said that, Google has less need to monetise the Google Desktop Search because it has far lower on-going costs associated with it than Gmail does: it sits and runs on your PC, uses no Google bandwidth but it does bring with it Google branding and a Google interface right on your desktop.

I think that what it will settle down to delivering is AdWords ads that are triggered by the keywords you search for and therefore there will be little room for invasions of privacy issues but those ads will get clicks and Google's income will rise.

A question arises: will AdWords advertisers be given the option of excluding their ads from the Desktop Search tool or will it be a compulsory part of the AdWords network?