Key Takeaways
- Google is introducing “AI Mode” in its search, offering a more conversational, chatbot-like experience.
- Users can ask complex questions using text, voice, or images, and engage in follow-up discussions.
- AI Mode presents detailed AI-generated answers prominently, with traditional links in a separate panel.
- It integrates real-time information, such as product prices and details, directly into responses.
- This new feature signals a future where searching online is more interactive and driven by natural conversation.
Google Search is evolving beyond its classic list of blue links. A new feature called AI Mode is changing how we find information, making search feel more like talking to an AI assistant than typing keywords.
This AI Mode, powered by Google’s Gemini technology, is an advanced step up from a simple search. Initially rolling out in the US to users 18 and older who have their web search history enabled, it appears as a distinct tab within Search or can be activated through Google Labs.
With AI Mode, you’re not limited to short queries. You can ask detailed questions, use your voice, or even search with images. The AI provides comprehensive answers, and you can ask follow-up questions to explore topics more deeply, with links to web sources still available. Your past AI conversations are also saved, so you can pick up where you left off.
One of the biggest visual changes is how results appear. The AI’s answer takes center stage, while the familiar list of website links is shifted to the side. AI Mode also pulls in real-time information, like current ticket prices or product details, often drawing from Google’s vast Shopping Graph, which lists billions of products.
This new search style aims to combine the strengths of various AI tools. While chatbots like Perplexity and ChatGPT offer conversational answers, AI Mode integrates this capability directly into Google Search, giving it access to Google’s extensive real-time data. It’s more interactive and detailed than Google’s existing AI Overviews, which only provide brief summaries for some searches.
AI Mode hints at a significant shift in how we interact with the internet. The goal is to make finding what you need more intuitive, allowing you to ask questions naturally and get consolidated answers, which could make tasks like planning trips or researching purchases easier.
Google is still developing AI Mode, treating it as experimental for now. According to an article from MakeUseOf, the company is listening to user feedback to improve the experience as it gradually becomes a standard part of Google Search.
