Google's AI Mode In Search Now Available To Select U.S. Users

Google has rolled out AI Mode in Search, which is available to select users in the US. 

Google is officially testing AI Mode in Search with more advanced capabilities (thinking, reasoning, multimodal) to help users even with complex questions and give them AI-powered responses that can go deeper with follow-up questions and web links. 

AI Mode, according to a Google Blog Post, is valuable for questions needing further reasoning, comparisons, and exploration. 

“This new Search mode expands what AI Overviews can do with more advanced reasoning, thinking, and multimodal capabilities so you can get help with even your toughest questions.” - Robby Stein, VP of Product, Google Search

For instance, users can ask questions that might have taken them many searches, such as comparing options. 

They can receive an AI-powered response with useful web links to learn more about a topic. 

Starting in the coming weeks, a separate AI Mode tab will appear alongside categories like Shopping, Images, and All. 

AI Mode acts more like a chatbot, unlike AI Overview, which appears between web links and the search bar. It delivers direct responses generated by and with information derived from Google's search index. 

The tech giant aims to deliver a more context-rich and intuitive search experience, similar to Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT with Search (web browsing capability).

Google is also eliminating its waitlist for the new update because anyone at least 18 years old in the US who is enrolled in Labs can access the AI Mode. 

The company is also making it accessible outside of its experimental arm. Currently, it’s testing the latest AI Mode tab in Search, which is visible to a small percentage of US users.

“We're excited for you to try these new features, and we’ll continue to quickly improve and evolve AI Mode based on your input.” - Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Director, Product Management, Search

With the latest updates, users can go beyond asking questions about products and places. They can use the AI mode to ask about things they need like for their outdoor adventure and see product and location cards, which they can tap on to learn more.