The way we search for information online is changing rapidly, and Google’s AI Mode is at the heart of this transformation. Announced during Google I/O 2025, this new feature promises to completely reshape how users interact with search results—going far beyond the blue links and simple summaries we’ve been accustomed to for years.
Unlike traditional search, where Google provides a list of links to websites that may answer your question, AI Mode uses advanced artificial intelligence to generate an immediate, comprehensive response right at the top of the search page. It essentially acts as a conversational assistant, crafting a mini-article that addresses your query in detail—without requiring users to visit multiple websites.
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How does AI Mode work behind the scenes?
At the core of AI Mode is Gemini 2.0, Google’s latest and most powerful AI model to date. This technology combines Google’s best-in-class information retrieval systems with cutting-edge reasoning and summarization capabilities.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- When you enter a query, AI Mode doesn’t perform just one search. Instead, it uses a “query fan-out” technique, launching multiple searches simultaneously across subtopics and related areas.
- It pulls information from diverse sources, including real-time data like the Knowledge Graph, Google Shopping, and verified web content.
- The AI then synthesizes the results, creating an easy-to-read, structured response that often includes comparisons, in-depth explanations, and helpful links.
For example, if you ask, “What’s the difference between a smartwatch, a smart ring, and a sleep tracking mat?”, AI Mode breaks down your query, gathers relevant information from across the web, and presents a unified, understandable response. You can even follow up with more questions to dig deeper into the topic.
How is AI Mode different from AI Overviews?
AI Overviews, launched by Google in 2024, introduced AI-generated summaries at the top of certain search results. While useful, these Overviews were limited to specific types of queries and still displayed the traditional list of links below.
AI Mode takes this concept much further:
- It completely replaces traditional search results with an AI-generated answer.
- It allows for follow-up questions, creating a more conversational, interactive search experience.
- It uses a more advanced version of Gemini 2.0, capable of handling complex, multi-layered queries.
- It enables deeper exploration of topics by offering more detailed, contextual, and personalized responses.
Essentially, while AI Overviews enhanced search, AI Mode reinvents it entirely.
Why is AI Mode generating so much controversy?
While Google frames AI Mode as an exciting leap forward, its rollout has caused waves in the SEO and digital marketing communities. Experts fear that by providing answers directly on the search page, AI Mode could reduce the need for users to click on external websites—a phenomenon known as zero-click searches.
This has sparked concern over:
- Significant drops in CTR (Click Through Rate) for websites.
- Reduced visibility and revenue for content creators and publishers.
- The potential long-term impact on organic traffic and the open web ecosystem.
As reported by the BBC, some industry leaders describe AI Mode as a “devastating” change that could alter the internet as we know it—shifting us toward a “machine web,” where content is produced for AI consumption rather than human readers.
How can users try Google’s AI Mode?
Currently, AI Mode is fully available in the United States and in testing in India, marking its first international expansion. To access AI Mode:
- Visit google.com/aimode.
- Look for visual indicators such as the new colorful “G” logo, homepage animations, or banners inviting you to “Try AI Mode.”
- You can also encounter AI Mode through special Doodles or within the Google Search app on mobile devices.
Is this the future of how we search online?
No, it’s not the future. It’s already the present.
While some see AI Mode as the next logical step in making information more accessible and user-friendly, others warn of unintended consequences for the broader internet.
Regardless of where you stand, one thing is clear: Google’s AI Mode is fundamentally different from anything that has come before, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-powered search—where finding answers feels less like navigating endless links and more like having a conversation with an intelligent assistant.
