- Google is working on a new shortcut for the Pixel Launcher’s search bar that opens the new AI Mode in Google Search.
- AI Mode is an upcoming feature of the Google Search app that’ll let you interact with Search more conversationally.
- The shortcut will reside to the left of the microphone and Lens icons.
To ensure its core Google Search product doesn’t fall behind competitors, Google is working to infuse generative AI into Search. This started with the introduction of AI Overviews in Search, which uses generative AI to summarize search results. Generative AI chatbots like Google’s own Gemini offer a far more conversational experience than Google Search, so to bridge that gap, Google is readying a new “AI Mode” for Google Search. We now have an early look at how Google will let you access this AI search mode right from your Pixel phone’s home screen.
Google Search’s upcoming AI Mode is currently being tested internally by employees, and thanks to a leak, we have an idea about how it will work. The feature is apparently powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.0 with “advanced reasoning and thinking capabilities” that’s designed to accommodate more open-ended and exploratory questions, such as those that ask Google for advice on something or to compare things. In addition, the feature will allow you to ask follow-up questions, so you can request that Google bring up more information or expand upon part of its answer.