Google just launched AI Mode, a Search Labs experiment that turns traditional search into a conversational experience powered by a custom Gemini 2.0, along with updates to AI Overviews.
The details:
AI Mode uses a “query fan-out” technique, launching simultaneous searches across diverse sources to assemble detailed answers with relevant sourcing.
Users can continue their search by asking follow-up questions directly in AI Mode, receiving well-reasoned responses with curated links to explore further.
Google also upgraded AI Overviews with Gemini 2.0, improving responses to more challenging topics like coding, advanced math, and multimodal queries.
The company also said it is expanding access to AI Overviews to teens and removing sign-in requirements.
Why it matters: Search continues to evolve in the AI era, and Google faces serious pressure from rivals like Perplexity, Grok, and ChatGPT. The new AI Mode looks to create a bridge between familiar search interactions and advanced, conversational AI — resulting in a potentially more comfortable (yet powerful) web experience.
