Google’s New AI mode: Here’s what to know
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at a Google I/O event in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
As debates around artificial intelligence continue to intensify, particularly in today’s politically charged and academically dependent landscape, Google is pressing forward with its latest AI innovation.
The tool, AI Mode, introduced via a celebratory Google Doodle and integrated into the Chrome browser’s new tab page, marks the company’s most significant leap in transforming how people search and receive information online.
The global tech giant has long recognized both the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence. In a world where AI is increasingly being weaponized for political propaganda and over-relied on by students, many are cautious about the technology’s influence.
Still, the consensus among many experts remains clear that AI, when used responsibly, can be a game-changer.
This sentiment is echoed by Google itself. In a blog post, the company stated, “For decades, Google Search has connected you to the vast information on the web… But this year, for the first time, Search rolled out a completely redesigned interface with a new way to address complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups.”
✨ AI Mode expands on AI Overviews with more advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities. We’re starting to roll it out to Google One AI Premium subscribers as an opt-in experiment in Labs.
Sign up for early access → https://t.co/82LFV03FAP pic.twitter.com/GfFkYoKZ4i
— Google (@Google) March 5, 2025
Unveiled at Google I/O 2025, AI Mode is available as a tab in Google Search for US users (as of now) and as a shortcut in the Google app’s search bar.
Once activated, users can ask nearly anything, from factual questions to layered queries, and receive summarized, AI-generated responses complete with links for deeper exploration.
“No product embodies our mission more than Google Search,” said CEO Sundar Pichai during the keynote event. “It’s the reason we started investing in AI decades ago — and how we can deliver its benefits at the scale of human curiosity.”
The new feature builds on last year’s AI Overviews, with upgrades in reasoning, context processing, and even multimodal capabilities. While AI Mode is currently limited to the US and India (as part of an opt-in Labs experiment for Google One AI Premium subscribers), a broader rollout may be on the horizon.
To try it, users in eligible regions can access AI Mode in several ways: by visiting google.com/aimode, selecting the AI Mode tab on the homepage, or tapping the option in the mobile app.
