Google AI Mode - It's Here
Google has officially announced Google AI Mode, a highly anticipated feature after months of rumors and leaked screenshots. According to Google, AI Mode enhances your search experience with advanced reasoning, multimodal capabilities, and improved assistance for complex queries.
What Is AI Mode?
AI Mode is a Google Search Labs experiment that users must opt into and get approved for. Initially, it is rolling out to Google One AI Premium subscribers, meaning not everyone will have immediate access. Once available, users will see an AI Mode tab below the search bar.
Sad News: AI Mode Is Only Available in the US for Now
Unfortunately, AI Mode is currently limited to users in the United States. Google has not yet provided a timeline for when it will expand to other regions.
How to Access AI Mode
To use AI Mode, you must be accepted into the Google Search Labs experiment. Here are three ways to access it:
- Google Search: Visit Google, enter a query, and select the AI Mode tab.
- Direct URL: Go to google.com/aimode.
- Google App: Tap the AI Mode icon on the home screen, below the search bar.
Many believe this is how AI should function within Google Search, offering users the ability to switch between AI-driven results and traditional search.
What AI Mode Looks Like
Mobile Interface
Desktop Interface
How AI Mode Works
Google has shared that AI Mode sources real-time web data from Google Search, including:
- Google Knowledge Graph for verified facts
- Google Shopping Graph for billions of product listings
- Live web data for real-time information
AI Mode employs a query fan-out technique, running multiple related searches across various sources to generate comprehensive responses.
Additionally, it supports multimodal searching, allowing users to query via text, voice, or images.
For a deep dive into AI Mode’s workings, Google has released a detailed PDF.
Links in AI Mode
AI Mode prioritizes showing relevant publisher and website links, helping users discover web pages they might otherwise miss. Unlike AI Overviews, AI Mode uses a different model to determine link placement.
Google is also training its models to intelligently decide when and how to link to external sites. For example, links will be included when users might need to complete an action, such as booking tickets.
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Search Console & AI Mode
Currently, Google Search Console does not provide AI Mode data. Google updated its documentation to confirm:
"Search Console doesn't include data from the 'AI Overviews and more' or 'AI Mode' experiments in Search Labs."
Controlling AI Mode with Robots.txt
Google has updated its robots directives to help publishers control how AI Mode interacts with their content:
nosnippet- Prevents Google from showing a text snippet or video preview in AI Mode.max-snippet:[number]- Limits the number of characters AI Mode can use from a webpage, unless permission is granted via structured data or licensing agreements.
When Will AI Mode Fully Roll Out?
The timeline for full AI Mode deployment remains unclear. Similar AI-powered search experiences from ChatGPT Search, Perplexity AI, and Microsoft Bing’s Copilot Search Beta suggest this is an evolving space.
Google has emphasized that AI Mode is an experiment, meaning users should expect continuous updates and occasional inconsistencies. However, rigorous testing and safeguards are in place to ensure reliability.
Videos on AI Mode
Here’s a YouTube-style explainer video on AI Mode:
Also, check out a review from an early-access user who has been using AI Mode alongside Perplexity AI:
Forum Discussion
Join the discussion about AI Mode on X (formerly Twitter):
Final Thoughts
AI Mode represents a significant shift in how Google integrates AI into search. By offering a dedicated AI Mode tab, Google gives users greater control over their search experience while ensuring access to real-time, accurate information.
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Do you have access to AI Mode yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
