Google Is Testing a Smarter Home for AI Mode History
Google is experimenting with a small but meaningful change in its Search app: a top-left shortcut to AI Mode history on the home screen. This replaces the Labs icon on Android for some builds and mirrors behavior testers have seen on iOS. The change appears in Android version 16.50.55.sa.arm64 as an in-development interface.
If it ships, returning to previous AI threads becomes a one-tap move. That matters as Search leans further into Gemini-driven answers and multi-step work flows.
What's Changing
- Current path on Android: tap the big AI Mode button, then the history icon in the top-right.
- New path: a dedicated history shortcut in the top-left of the home screen (where Labs lived), with a date-sorted list of past sessions.
- iOS testers are already seeing a similar shortcut; Android is catching up with a server-side style rollout likely.
- Some iOS users may not see it yet; availability looks staged and experimental.
Why It Matters
Most real work spans sessions: trip planning, debugging, research, or spec iterations. Fast access to history reduces friction so you can reuse prompts, build on prior answers, and resume context without retyping.
Good UX favors recognition over recall. Putting history front-and-center follows established patterns for messaging-like threads and lowers cognitive load. See the principle of "recognition rather than recall" from Nielsen Norman Group.
There's also a growth angle: easier access to past chats typically boosts re-engagement. Mobile dominates global web usage, per StatCounter, so placing history in the main nav of Google's app meets users where they already spend time.
Product Takeaways for Teams Building AI or Chat Features
- Make history one tap from the primary surface; avoid hiding it behind secondary menus.
- Sort by recency, show quick metadata (title, date, last action), and support search within history.
- Allow thread renaming, pinning, and lightweight collections for projects.
- Deep link to specific turns in a thread; support "resume with context" on open.
- Surface privacy controls near history (clear, auto-delete windows, and visibility indicators).
- Measure: tap-through rate to history, resume rate, time-to-first-action after resume, reuse of prior outputs, and re-engagement after 7/30 days.
iOS Direction and Android Parity
Some iOS testers already see a top-left history shortcut. Android builds now reflect the same direction with version 16.50.55.sa.arm64 showing the in-progress UI.
Expect staggered availability, server-side switches, and visual tweaks before a broader rollout. As usual, not everyone will see it at once.
What Happens to Labs
Labs isn't gone; it's likely moving to the profile menu or an overflow area. Historically, Google promotes features out of Labs once they become staple behavior.
The signal is clear: conversational AI is becoming default inside the app, and history is central to that workflow.
Privacy and Controls
AI Mode history depends on Web & App Activity settings. You can pause saving or set auto-delete to 3, 18, or 36 months based on your comfort level.
A more visible history entry should also improve hygiene: quick checks, faster deletes, and easier reviews of sensitive sessions.
What to Watch Next
This is a test, so it may evolve or pause. But with iOS and Android both trending this way, a wider release is a fair bet.
Expect AI Mode to look less like a toggle and more like a conversation hub. Your past threads become the backbone for ongoing tasks and faster iteration.
Quick Checklist for Product Teams
- Add a single-tap entry point to history from your main surface.
- Use a compact, date-sorted list with clear titles and last-updated timestamps.
- Enable thread-level privacy actions (delete, export, retention window).
- Offer "resume with context" and create links to specific turns.
- Track resume and completion metrics to prove time saved and task success.
- Plan copy and education that set correct expectations around saved data.
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