Is SEM and Google Ads the same?

No. Search engine marketing (SEM) is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), through techniques such as paid advertising, copywriting, and link building.

Google Ads is a form of paid advertising that allows businesses to place ads on Google’s search results pages and other Google properties. Ads are targeted to users based on their interests and past interactions with the advertiser’s website or app.