Google just rolled out AI Mode, a next-gen search feature that ditches traditional link lists for full-page AI-generated answers.
It’s powered by Gemini 2.0, pulling from multiple sources to give you a synthesized, citation-backed response—basically like having a research assistant built into Google.
You can toggle AI Mode on and off, turning Google Search into an interactive AI chatbot that handles follow-ups like a pro.
And since it pulls real-time data from Google’s Knowledge Graph, Shopping Graph, and live web indexing, it’s way more dynamic than your typical search result.
AI Mode launched in March 2025 through Google Search Labs, but—here’s the catch—it’s only available to Google One AI Premium subscribers in the U.S. for now.
You have to manually opt in, and Google hasn’t set a date for a wider rollout.
They’re testing the waters with early users before expanding access.
- Perplexity AI: Known for solid citations and tight summaries, but it doesn’t have Google’s real-time web indexing.
- ChatGPT Search: Great for in-depth convos, but its browsing mode leans on Bing and sits behind a paywall.
- Microsoft Copilot (Bing Chat): Runs on GPT-4 and Bing, offers inline citations, but doesn’t have Google’s search scale.
- Other AI search tools (DuckAssist, YouChat, NeevaAI): More niche, with limited data sources and reach.
This is Google making a major play for AI-powered search to stay ahead of ChatGPT and Bing. They’re evolving beyond just a search engine into a full-blown AI-first answer hub—without wrecking ad revenue or cutting off publisher traffic.
Looking ahead, Google has big plans:
- Smarter AI assistants baked into search
- Deeper personalization to tailor results
- Multimodal integration (think AR-enhanced AI search)
- Proactive search assistance that delivers answers before you even ask
Google isn’t just tweaking search—it’s reshaping how we interact with the internet. |
