Google is enhancing its AI integration within search, aiming to provide more comprehensive and visible AI-driven overviews. This initiative extends beyond desktop searches and is reportedly being tested on Android and iOS mobile apps.
Internal testing reveals a new “AI Mode” shortcut within the Google Android app. Reverse-engineering efforts by Android Authority uncovered this work-in-progress feature, showcasing a dedicated AI mode button located directly beneath the search bar.
Google AI mode button on Search.
This new button replaces the existing shortcuts for image/audio search and translation powered by Google Lens. Interestingly, separate icons for voice search and Google Lens remain present in the redesigned interface. This suggests that Google Lens, and its existing functionality, will likely coexist with the new AI features, rather than being immediately replaced by a Gemini-powered image search.
“Search Live”: Redefining Google Search with AI
The icon for the new “AI Mode” mirrors the one used for Gemini Live, Google’s interactive conversational AI chatbot. Internal code references, also discovered by Android Authority, label the feature as “Search Live,” implying a primary focus on enhancing the Google search experience. With AI chatbots emerging as conversational search alternatives, Google’s “AI Mode” represents a strategic move to integrate this technology directly into its core search functionality.
Transforming Search Results with AI Overviews
Leaked screenshots indicate that “AI Mode” will deliver richer, more descriptive responses directly within search results, similar to the experience within Gemini. Instead of simply listing top website results, this mode could synthesize information from multiple web pages, providing source links for transparency. Users could then engage in follow-up questions, all within the initial view of the search results page.
The Future of Search: AI-Driven and Conversational
Currently in internal evaluation, “AI Mode” may undergo further refinements before public release. A key consideration will be the integration of search ads, Google’s primary revenue source. How Google balances ad placement within this new AI-driven interface, particularly if it becomes the default search experience, remains to be seen. The development of “AI Mode” underscores Google’s commitment to evolving search beyond traditional link listings and towards a more conversational, AI-powered future.
