The company that owns Steemit has a Google AdSense account. When you search the top results are Google Ads, and then the results from the Steemit.com domain are displayed.
Search for "x"
1st Google Ads about "x"
Followed by content from Steemit.com about "x" from Goole Search
If you have an AdSense account, you profit when people click the ads. On the other side companies use the Google AdWords program to buy these ads that you are talking about
Okay thanks, didn't know that. Makes sense for the steem company but I think its hurts the user experience of the platform. That's just my opinion though I guess.