2 weeks ago
4
Google Search has dominated the market for decades, but the experience has remained relatively the same -- that is, until generative AI exploded in popularity. Since then, Google has been forced to reimagine Search, using AI to create a more conversational and personalized experience.
Also: Everything announced at Google I/O 2025: Gemini, Search, Android XR, and more
On Tuesday, during its Google I/O keynote, Google unveiled several major upgrades to its search engine that are setting the foundation for the future of Search with AI at its core.
Search Live
Users have been able to visually search the web by uploading pictures into Google Search using Google Lens. Now, Google is taking multimodal search to the next level by introducing Project Astra's live capabilities in Search in a new feature called Search Live.
Also: 8 best AI features and tools revealed at Google I/O 2025
Similar to Gemini Live, with Search Live you can have multi-turn conversations with Search about what you are seeing in real time. Once Search Live is activated, it can also explain dense topics, make suggestions, and provide links to additional resources such as websites, videos, and more.
AI Mode in search for everyone
Earlier this year, Google launched its AI Mode experience to give users more of a conversational search experience. With AI Mode, users can browse the web using longer conversational prompts instead of carefully selected keywords. The experience also mimics a traditional learning environment, with the ability to ask follow-up questions like you would with a human.
AI Mode was initially launched through a waitlist in Labs and then opened to everyone still in Labs. Now it is available to everyone without a Labs sign-up required. Additionally, starting this week, Search -- both AI Mode and AI Overviews -- in the US will be powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5, its most intelligent model.
Also: Deleting your personal info from Google Search is stunningly easy now - and fast
Google said it will bring Gemini's frontier capabilities to AI Mode. For example, it is introducing a deep research capability in AI Mode called Deep Search that provides more thorough responses when selected. Using this feature, AI Mode will conduct hundreds of searches to create a fully cited report in just minutes.
Even if you aren't interested in an AI search engine, you'll want to try it because Google shared that it will graduate AI Mode features and capabilities into the core Search experience in AI Overviews. This means that by using AI Mode and providing feedback, you could have a say in the development of the future of Search.
Google is also unlocking an experience that was previously impossible in traditional Search. Soon, AI Mode can analyze datasets to help you crunch numbers or visualize the data.
Agentic search
AI agents are the hottest topic in AI right now, and Google seized the opportunity to incorporate them into Search. Project Mariner, a research prototype built on Gemini 2.0 that can automate tasks in your browser, will be incorporated into AI Mode to perform tasks such as purchasing tickets.
Also: How Google's AI combats new scam tactics - and how you can stay one step ahead
With this capability, to find tickets users will ask a prompt such as "Get me two affordable tickets to the Knicks' playoff game on Wednesday." AI Mode will then present you with tickets that match your criteria, and you can place the order yourself. At the beginning, agentic capabilities will be limited to restaurant reservations and appointments through collaboration with Ticketmaster, StubHub, Resy, and Vagaro.
AI Mode for shopping
To build on the experience above, AI Mode will also be able to place orders for you through a new shopping experience, which allows it to place an order once the price drops to your designated level. Users will also be able to try on outfits via a new "try on" experience in Labs. To read more, see all the updates here.
Personalized search
Google will soon give users the opportunity to feed AI Mode with the context of past searches and other Google apps, starting with Gmail, to provide more personal context so it can deliver more relevant answers. For example, if you are looking up dinner recommendations, it could use your hotel and flight confirmations found in your email to give you suggestions in the area.
Also: Gemini might soon have access to your Google Search history - if you let it
To keep users in control, personal context will be shown whenever it is used, and users can tweak the personalization settings at any time.
AI Overviews
AI Overviews, the feature that provides users with AI summaries of their keyword search at the top of the search results, has been expanded to more than 200 countries and territories in over 40 languages. Language support was added for Arabic, Chinese, Malay, Urdu, and more. Starting this week, Gemini 2.5, which Google dubs its most intelligent model, is coming to AI Overviews in the US.
Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.
English (US) ·