A Google spokesperson explains:
Promoted pins in navigation are not new – they let people see relevant ads for businesses like gas stations, restaurants, and stores along their route. To avoid driver distraction, these ads do not pop up, expand only if they’re tapped on, and disappear quickly after a short time.
Okay, that’s a better explanation. Thanks. So a pin on the map appears, and that’s all? I will say that it’s annoying when you’re searching for something and maps keeps auto selecting some featured search. I noticed that happening about a week ago.