Highlights
- Google’s new AI Mode turns Search into a chatbot-like tool, providing direct AI-generated answers and follow-up question support.
- The AI Mode synthesises information, connects dots and offers interactive responses for complex queries.
- Features like Project Mariner for autonomous tasks, Deep Search for detailed queries and Search Live for real-time assistance are also coming.
At the recent Google I/O developer conference 2025, Google announced a new feature called AI Mode, which completely changes how we interact with Google Search. This new AI-powered experience is available to all users in the U.S as of now. Here’s everything we know about the new feature.
AI Mode is a total reimagining of Search — an end-to-end AI experience with more advanced reasoning. Early testers have been asking much longer queries, 2-3x the length of traditional searches.
AI Mode is rolling out to everyone in the U.S., starting today. 🎉#GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/xGELAnY1tM
— Google (@Google) May 20, 2025
Google AI Mode
Caption – Google’s new AI Mode is now available to users in the US. (Image credit – Google)
CEO Sundar Pichai described it as a “total reimagining of search,” turning what was once a simple list of links into something more like an interactive AI assistant. “Search is bringing AI to more people than any other product in the world,” said Pichai, pointing to Google’s massive reach with 8.5 billion searches a day.
What Is AI Mode?
AI Mode offers a chatbot-style experience built right into Google Search. Instead of just showing links, it gives you AI-generated responses and lets you ask follow-up questions in a more natural, conversational way. This feature was previously available only to select users through Google’s Labs program, but now it’s rolling out more widely.
According to Liz Reid, VP and Head of Search at Google, there’s been a big shift in how people use Search. “We launched AI Overviews last year at I/O, and since then there’s been a profound shift in how people are using Google Search. People are coming to Google to ask more of their questions, including more complex, longer and multimodal questions,” she said.
Caption – Google’s new AI Mode will change the way we know Google Search. (Image credit – Google)
This move marks a major departure from Google’s traditional way of showing search results. Instead of just listing webpages, AI Mode provides answers directly similar to how ChatGPT or Perplexity works.
Reid explained that the familiar search results page was essentially a product of how the web was built. But now, with users engaging more with AI-generated answers, the model is changing. “In our biggest markets like the U.S. and India, AI Overviews is driving over 10% increase in usage of Google for the types of queries that show AI Overviews,” she said.
Nick Fox, who heads Google’s knowledge and information products, said this is a natural evolution for Search. “In the past, search would have been limited to, ‘if there’s a piece of information out there, I can deliver it back to someone.’” But now, Google’s AI can “reason, transform, connect dots, synthesise — things that go beyond simple information retrieval to real intelligence.”
Google Journey From Search Tool to Digital Assistant
Google also previewed other AI-powered features that push things even further. One of them, called Project Mariner, is designed to autonomously complete tasks like booking travel or doing research. Other features include “Deep Search” for in-depth queries and “Search Live” for real-time visual assistance.
Google explains, “Often you come to Search to get something done, and now we’re bringing the agentic capabilities of Project Mariner into AI Mode, to help save you time with tasks like purchasing tickets. Just ask, “Find 2 affordable tickets for this Saturday’s Reds game in the lower level” and AI Mode will kick off a query fan-out, looking across sites to analyze hundreds of potential ticket options with real-time pricing and inventory, and handle the tedious work of filling in forms. AI Mode will present ticket options that meet your exact criteria, and you can complete the purchase on whichever site you prefer – saving you time while keeping you in control.”
“This will start with event tickets, restaurant reservations and local appointments. And we’ll be working with companies like Ticketmaster, StubHub, Resy and Vagaro to create a seamless and helpful experience,” the company adds.
But don’t worry, blue links aren’t going away just yet. For now, AI Mode will live in a separate tab, so users can choose whether or not to use it. Fox said the classic Google Search is still the “best experience” for many users.
“In three years, we will all think about and use Search in a way completely unrecognizable to today’s product,” Fox said.
Google plans to test these new tools in Labs first, especially for power users, before gradually bringing the most successful features into the main Search experience.
FAQs
Q1. What is Google’s AI Mode in Search?
Answer. AI Mode is a chatbot-style feature built into Google Search, providing AI-generated answers and allowing users to ask follow-up questions interactively.
Q2. How does AI Mode differ from traditional Google Search?
Answer. Instead of displaying link-based results, AI Mode synthesises information, connects dots, and provides direct, conversational responses like an AI assistant.
Q3. What new AI-powered tools is Google introducing?
Answer. Google is developing Project Mariner for autonomous tasks, Deep Search for in-depth queries, and Search Live for real-time visual assistance.
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