A Closer Look Inside AI Mode
Google Search has connected users to the web’s vast information for decades. Over time, it evolved beyond simple “10 blue links,” incorporating images, videos, maps, and more. This year marks a significant shift with a redesigned interface that handles complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups more effectively.
Introducing AI Mode: a new Search experience launching soon in the U.S. It offers clear, AI-powered answers with key details and useful links for further exploration. You can ask anything, continue with follow-ups, or return later to pick up where you left off.
AI Mode’s Purpose and Approach
Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai highlights that Search embodies the company’s mission—delivering AI benefits at the scale of human curiosity. AI Mode aims to satisfy that curiosity by allowing users to interact in a more natural and nuanced way.
Product Management Director Soufi Esmaeilzadeh explains that AI Mode moves beyond keyword searches. It lets people ask complex questions in plain language, just as they would in conversation. The system then organizes information into easy-to-digest summaries, reducing the effort needed to understand results.
Origins: From AI Overviews to AI Mode
The journey began with AI Overviews—automatically generated summaries appearing atop search results when AI responses add value. User research revealed people appreciated these snapshots but wanted them more predictable and accessible. They also started asking longer, more detailed questions, the kind AI handles well, like planning a quiet, kid-friendly vacation.
UX Research Director Claudia Smith noticed this trend: users were intuitively seeking more AI-driven answers but lacked clear cues on when those would appear. This insight sparked the idea to create an entirely new AI search experience.
User-Centered Development
The team collaborated closely with “AI power users” — those skilled in leveraging AI effectively. Their input shaped the initial features and helped prioritize use cases such as exploratory advice, how-to guides, and local shopping assistance.
Designing the interface posed a unique challenge. For 25 years, Search encouraged minimal input. AI Mode invites more fluid, extended interaction with a search bar at the bottom to support follow-ups. The UI signals this new approach with dynamic elements showing when the system is processing, making the experience feel responsive and engaging.
Testing and Launch
After rigorous internal feedback and testing with trusted users, AI Mode entered Labs in March. This phase allowed rapid iteration based on real user experiences, leading to its U.S. launch just three months later.
Additional features previewed at I/O 2025 will roll out over the coming weeks and months, further refining the experience.
What AI Mode Means for Product Development
Users appreciate AI Mode for not just retrieving information but actively organizing and clarifying it using advanced AI models. This approach reduces cognitive load and helps users make better decisions faster.
For product developers, AI Mode exemplifies how to build user-first AI experiences: start with real user behavior, test constantly, and design interfaces that encourage natural interaction. The focus on plain language queries and follow-up support shows how AI can integrate seamlessly into everyday workflows.
As AI Mode continues to evolve, maintaining a feedback loop with users will be critical to meet emerging needs without overwhelming them with complexity.
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