Google is adding even more AI to Search.
In an announcement today, Google introduced AI Mode, an AI chatbot that responds to Search queries – essentially, it’s Google’s answer to ChatGPT Search.
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When you ask a question in AI Mode, Gemini 2.0 builds an answer. You can ask follow-up questions or request links to learn more. AI Mode does the “heavy lifting,” Google says, organizing information and giving you easy-to-digest breakdowns.
In an example posted on Google’s blog, a user asks, “Explain how déjà vu works and how it relates to memory.” Instead of pointing to an existing online result, an extensive AI-created answer pops up (the example was at least seven paragraphs long).
Another example shows a user asking when the best time would be this week to conduct a photo shoot at a certain park in Boston. Gemini responds with a weather forecast for the week and even adds the sunset time so the photographer can shoot in the “golden hour.” It also recommends a time when the garden is less busy. When the searcher follows up with a request for “fun background recommendations,” Gemini creates a list of ideal photo spots.
Google says this is unique because it combines an advanced AI model with Google’s immense search depth and knowledge. You get access to high-quality content and Google’s insights about the real world. AI Mode is much like any other conversational chatbot, but it pulls information from several Google products to provide hyper-specific answers.
Google admits that AI Mode “won’t always get it right,” adding that it’s possible for AI responses to present information that appears to take on a persona or reflect a particular opinion.
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The feature is still in testing, so for now, it’s only available to Google One AI Premium users who pay $20 a month – and even then, you’ll still have to manually turn it on from Google Labs. Like other Labs features, it’ll most likely eventually make its way to everyone.
If you’re not a fan of AI in your search results, you’ll be happy to know that you must actively seek out this feature. Since it’s located in a special tab on the app or the search page, you won’t get these AI answers accidentally.