In a major update, Google announced the availability of AI Mode in its Search Labs for all U.S. users aged 18 and above. The tool blends advanced reasoning, multimodal capabilities, and the Gemini chatbot experience to tackle complex queries more naturally.
What Is AI Mode?
AI Mode is not to be confused with AI Overviews. While AI Overviews passively summarize search results at the top of the page, AI Mode is interactive—you can ask follow-up questions, refine searches, or even upload images. The interface resembles the standalone Gemini app but comes integrated with live search results.
What’s New: Product & Place Cards
Google is also rolling out “product and place cards” in AI responses. These include images, user ratings, store hours, availability, and other useful metadata—providing a more commerce-friendly and visual experience within search.
“Teaching the Model How to Use Google”
Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google Search, explained that AI Mode teaches Gemini how to use Google itself—essentially making the AI act like a superpowered search user that processes and summarizes relevant content across the web.
Impact on Publishers: Still a Concern
The rollout comes amid concerns that AI summaries reduce website traffic. Google claims that it doesn’t track engagement by mere appearance but by actual user interaction with AI Overviews. While some publishers report drops in traffic, Google maintains it hasn’t seen a system-wide decline in web clicks.
New Types of Queries
AI Mode is opening up entirely new search behavior, such as diagnosing issues via photo uploads and hyper-specific product comparisons—queries users may not have previously typed into traditional search.
How to Use AI Mode
To try AI Mode:
- Be 18+ and located in the U.S.
- Turn on web search history in your Google account
- Visit Search Labs to opt in
