Vidita Chandra | 21 May 2025 12:30 PM
Google is revamping the search game with a new AI Mode, rolling out as part of a major upgrade to the search engine. Unveiled at Google I/O 2025, it builds on AI Overviews but takes it much further—think of it as a built-in GPT-style assistant inside your search bar. You can still hunt for links, but now you can chat with Google, ask follow-ups, or get smart, summarised answers that go way beyond what a typical webpage offers.
Here’s how AI Mode works – when you type in a query, it breaks your question down into smaller subtopics and runs multiple searches behind the scenes. This layered approach helps deliver more context-rich, relevant answers, as per Google. The AI mode is powered by Gemini 2.5, Google’s latest language model. It's important to note that while the underlying tech has come a long way, the accuracy of results still has a few wrinkles.
That said, AI Mode offers capabilities that go well beyond your average Google search. With features like Deep Search, it turns one prompt into a flurry of behind-the-scenes queries, pulling in and stitching together insights to serve up a full-bodied answer, even for sprawling, complex topics.
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Google’s AI Mode now includes Project Mariner, the once-experimental feature that doesn't just browse the web—it acts. Imagine AI booking your holiday, comparing concert tickets, and locking in the best deal, all without you lifting a finger. There's also Search Live, which lets you chat with Search like it’s a person or even point your camera at something and get instant help.
The new shopping experience in AI Mode features visuals, intelligent guidance, and reliable product information. It also offers shoppers a virtual dressing room and a streamlined, agent-driven checkout process, allowing you to make purchases quickly when the price is just right.
AI Mode can also look back at your past searches and, if you opt in, tap into your Gmail (and eventually other Google apps) to better understand your interests and needs. The result, Google says, is a search engine that feels far less generic and far more like your own digital assistant. The rollout starts today in the US.