Google’s new AI Search Mode VS Google’s AI Overview: What it is, how to use it, and why it’s more than just a fancy search bar.
Google generative AI search. Man searching google using laptop.
Credit: DIA TV, Shutterstock
New Google AI Mode is for questions that are too messy, weird, or human for the old search box. AI Mode breaks your question into parts, hunts the best info, and brings it all back – without you lifting a finger. With AI Mode, Google Search becomes less of a directory and more of a dialogue. This is what users need to know.
Google’s new AI Mode is changing how we search – from quick queries to deep conversations.
If your Google Search page has started to look a bit… different this week, don’t worry – it’s not just your Wi-Fi acting up. Google has officially flicked the switch on its latest AI-powered tool in the UK: AI Mode. Already rolled out in the US and India, this is no ordinary search upgrade – it’s Google’s boldest move yet towards reimagining how we ask, learn, and explore online.
Here’s the lowdown on what AI Mode actually is, how to use it, and why it might just change the way you Google forever.
What is Google AI Mode?
AI Mode is Google’s attempt to drag online search into the future – and, to be fair, it’s doing a decent job of it. Instead of typing short, robotic phrases into the search bar and hoping for the best, AI Mode lets you ask complex, human-style questions – and it actually understands them.
Powered by Gemini 2.5, Google’s most advanced AI model to date, AI Mode goes beyond traditional search. It breaks down your question into parts, scans the web like a digital bloodhound, and pulls together a coherent, conversational answer. In other words, it does the tedious work for you, similar to an assistant. No longer will you have to perform ten different searches when you ponder over the physics of how you could make the world’s largest pizza, or the viability of teleportation. Now, it all stays within one convo with the big G. Score.
Speaking to the PA News Agency, Hema Budaraju, vice president of product management for Google Search, said it marks a “major shift” in how we use online search, allowing users to ask “multi-part questions and follow-ups” in a more natural way.
Think: ‘Plan me a trip to Italy in September with a focus on wine tasting, the best pizzas known to man, less walking, and places with English-speaking guides’ – rather than just typing ‘Italy trip September,’ or ‘best pizza in Italy.’
So, what’s the difference between AI Mode and AI Overviews?
They might sound similar, but there’s a key distinction:
- AI Overviews are those ‘helpful’ AI-generated summaries that sit above your usual blue links, offering a quick digest of what the web says. Critics have complained that they are often superficial and based on poor sources.
- New AI Search Mode, on the other hand, turns your search into a proper conversation. It can replace the standard results page with a clean, chat-like interface that offers detailed responses, interactive features, and follow-up options.
In short, AI Overviews give you a snapshot. AI Mode invites you in for a chat.
What can AI Mode actually do?
It’s not just about asking longer questions. Google’s AI Mode now comes packed with new features – and some are genuinely useful (and a bit fun too).
1. Search with images, PDFs and even your screen
You can ask questions about images and PDFs – yes, really. Whether you upload a psychology lecture PDF or take a photo of a financial graph, AI Mode can scan it and help you understand what’s going on without you having to do all of the grunt work.
Coming soon: support for even more file types, including documents from your Google Drive.
2. Get organised with Canvas
Got a big project, study plan, or trip to organise? AI Mode’s new Canvas feature creates a dynamic planning space that updates as you go. Just type your question, tap “Create Canvas”, and Google starts stitching everything together – from itineraries to study guides. You can even upload your own notes to feed into the plan.
3. Go Live with video input
This one’s a bit more advanced. Using Google Lens, you can now open your camera, point it at something – a science experiment, a tricky maths diagram, a mole, your dog – and ask questions in real time. It’s like having a private tutor who can see what you’re talking about.
This part is rolling out in the US first, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
4. Search what you see in Chrome
Soon, when you’re browsing in Chrome, you’ll notice a new option: “Ask Google about this page.” See a complicated diagram? Click the button, highlight the part you don’t get, and AI Mode will give you an AI Overview. Then, if you want more, just hit “Dive deeper” – and continue the conversation.
How to turn it on (and where to find it)
Starting July 29, AI Mode started gradually appearing across the UK on:
- Google Search desktop (look for the AI Mode button on the homepage)
- The Google app on Android and iOS
It’s rolling out in stages, so if you don’t see it yet, give it a few days. No downloads required – it’s baked right into the search engine you already use.
Why does it matter?
AI Mode isn’t just a gimmick – it’s a glimpse into the next phase of how we interact with information online. As Budaraju put it in Google’s own blog:
“AI Mode is particularly helpful for exploratory questions and more complicated tasks like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos.”
In testing, Google noticed that users were asking questions two to three times longer than normal – suggesting we’re finally moving past the era of robotic keyword mashing.
Final thoughts: Is it the future of search?
Google’s AI Mode feels like a serious attempt to make search more intelligent – and more human. For students, professionals, curious minds, or the simply overwhelmed, it might just become the most useful button on your browser.
Whether you’re planning a trip, solving a maths problem, or wondering what’s wrong with your sourdough starter, AI Mode might just have the answer. Or at least a very confident guess.
To try it now: Head to Google Search and look for the AI Mode button – and start searching like it’s 2025.
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