Google has unveiled a new “AI Mode” for its search engine, offering users a more conversational experience powered by its Gemini chatbot. The feature, launched Tuesday in the U.S., allows people to interact with search more like they’re speaking to an expert, rather than sifting through web links.
The announcement came during Google’s annual developers conference, where CEO Sundar Pichai called it a “new phase of the AI platform shift.” He said the updated search experience allows for more advanced reasoning and supports longer, more complex queries.
AI Mode is part of Google’s broader push to stay ahead in the artificial intelligence race, particularly as competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT chip away at its dominance in online search. Any shift in how users engage with search is high stakes – search advertising still accounts for the bulk of Google’s revenue.
“Google is getting more efficient at answering questions, but less efficient at generating clicks – and clicks is how they get paid,” said Cory Johnson, chief market strategist at Epistrophy Capital Research.
Alongside AI Mode, Google revealed its plans to develop new augmented reality glasses in partnership with eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The glasses, equipped with a camera, microphone, and speakers, mark Google’s return to the smart eyewear space more than a decade after its original Google Glass project failed to gain traction. The company expects to begin development later this year.
The move positions Google against Meta, which launched its own AI-powered glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban.
Leo Gebbie, principal analyst at CCS Insight, said Google’s integration of AI into everyday products was expected. He noted that the chatbot could help reduce the number of web pages users need to explore by providing more direct answers to complex questions.
“For the end user, this should mean less time browsing and more time talking to Google’s AI,” Gebbie said.
Pichai also provided updates on Google’s AI Overviews feature, introduced at last year’s developer conference. The tool generates summaries that appear at the top of search results. Although its rollout was initially marred by bizarre responses – such as recommending users eat a rock daily or use glue to keep cheese on pizza—Google says these were rare glitches.
Despite early criticism, the company reports that AI Overviews now receive 1.5 billion uses per month across more than 200 countries and territories. In major markets like the U.S. and India, the feature accounts for over 10% of growth in relevant query types.
“It’s one of the most successful launches in search in the past decade,” Pichai said.
Google’s advancements come amid legal challenges. The company is currently fighting a U.S. court ruling that found it maintains a monopoly in online search, a decision that could reshape its business practices.
As the tech giant races to integrate AI more deeply across its products and services, it faces not only competitive pressure but also mounting scrutiny over how those changes impact users – and its bottom line.
