Business APAC
2nd May, 2025
The way we search online is changing, and Google is right at the forefront. You might have noticed AI-powered summaries popping up in your results lately (those are called AI Overviews). Now, Google is taking another significant step by expanding access to its experimental “AI Mode” in Search, promising a richer, more conversational way to find what you need.
Initially tucked away in Google’s experimental playground, Search Labs, this feature is starting to peek out, with the waitlist removed for all Labs users in the US and a small percentage of regular US users now seeing an “AI Mode” tab directly in their search results. So, what’s the big deal about this Google Search AI Mode?
Think of it less like the familiar list of blue links and more like having a conversation with a super-smart research assistant that’s plugged directly into the live web. While AI Overviews provide quick summaries for many searches, AI Mode is designed for deeper dives and more complex questions.
What Can AI Mode Actually Do?
Google’s vision for AI Mode goes beyond simple Q&A. It’s built to handle the kind of multi-step thinking we often do ourselves when researching or planning. Here’s a glimpse of its capabilities:
- Handle Complex Queries: Ask it things like, “Find me vintage shops nearby that specialize in mid-century modern furniture and are open on Sundays.” Instead of you needing multiple searches, AI Mode aims to synthesize this information.
- Plan and Brainstorm: Use it to outline a travel itinerary, compare different insurance options with specific criteria, or brainstorm ideas for a project.
- Go Multimodal: You aren’t limited to text. You can ask questions using your voice or even upload images and ask about them (available in the Google app).
- Get Richer Results: Rolling out soon are visual cards for places and products directly within AI Mode. Looking for a restaurant? You might see ratings, hours, and reviews. Shopping? Expect prices, images, and maybe even local stock information, powered by Google’s constantly updated Shopping Graph.
- Follow-Up Naturally: Like chatting with a person, you can ask follow-up questions to refine your search or explore tangents without starting over.
- Revisit Your Searches: On desktop, a planned feature includes a side panel showing your past AI Mode topics, letting you easily pick up where you left off on longer research tasks.
Google Search AI Mode vs. ChatGPT: What’s the Difference?
It’s natural to compare Google’s AI efforts with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a tool that has dramatically popularized conversational AI. While both leverage powerful AI, their approach and purpose differ:
- Integration: AI Mode is integrated directly into Google Search, designed to enhance the existing search experience. ChatGPT is primarily a standalone conversational platform (though it has web browsing capabilities).
- Data Source: Google’s AI Mode heavily relies on its real-time Search index, meaning it can provide up-to-the-minute information and directly link to web sources for verification. ChatGPT’s knowledge is based on its training data (with a cutoff date, unless actively browsed), and while it can provide sources, Google’s integration is arguably tighter.
- Purpose: Google Search, even with AI, remains focused on information retrieval, connecting users with web content, products, and local businesses. ChatGPT excels at generation (writing text, code), summarization, and holding extended, context-aware conversations.
- Presentation: Google aims to blend AI answers with traditional results (like links, maps, product listings). ChatGPT provides a more purely text-based conversational interface.
Essentially, Google is evolving search to be more conversational and comprehensive, while ChatGPT offers a powerful, versatile AI chat experience that can be used for search-like tasks. The experience provided by Google Search AI Mode aims to leverage Google’s unique strengths in indexing the live web.
The Evolving Search Landscape
The introduction and expansion of Google Search AI Mode signal a clear direction: Google sees AI not just as an add-on, but as a fundamental part of Search’s future. While AI Overviews are already becoming more common (available in the US, UK, India, and several other countries), AI Mode represents a potentially more interactive and powerful way to navigate the web’s information.
It’s still early days for AI Mode outside of the experimental Labs setting. Google is gathering feedback and will undoubtedly continue refining the experience. But one thing is clear: the simple search box is getting a lot smarter, aiming to understand not just your keywords, but your intent, making the journey from question to answer feel more natural and less like work. This Google Search AI Mode development is one to watch closely.
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