Google is doubling down on artificial intelligence within its search engine, rolling out AI-generated overviews to more users and unveiling a new, experimental feature called AI Mode. This latest tool aims to reshape the way people search, offering AI-powered answers front and center.

Starting this week, Google’s AI Overviews – concise AI-generated summaries of search topics – will be available to a broader audience. Even users who aren’t signed into Google will begin seeing AI-generated responses in their search results, signaling the company’s growing confidence in its AI models.

AI Mode: Google’s take on AI-powered search

In addition to expanding AI Overviews, Google has introduced AI Mode, a feature that brings an AI-powered chatbot directly into the Google Search experience. Similar to platforms like Perplexity and ChatGPT Search, AI Mode generates detailed responses to queries by pulling insights from Google’s vast search index, interweaving supporting links for additional context.

Currently, AI Mode is available only as a test feature for subscribers of Google One AI Premium, and even they must manually enable it in the Google Labs section. It functions as a dedicated tab within search, much like Images or News, allowing users to receive AI-generated answers rather than traditional search results.

According to Google’s VP of Product for Search, Robby Stein, AI Overviews have already changed the types of queries people bring to Google, encouraging users to ask more complex questions. With the integration of Google’s Gemini 2.0 AI model, the company aims to enhance responses for math, coding, and reasoning-based queries.

A shift away from traditional search?

As Google leans further into AI-driven search, some have raised concerns that the company is prioritizing AI-generated responses over linking to traditional websites, potentially disrupting the internet’s ecosystem. However, Stein reassures that AI Overviews and AI Mode are designed to complement traditional search rather than replace it.

“We see that with AI Overviews, users get more context before clicking through to a website,” he explains. “When they do visit sites, they tend to stay longer and engage more, making them better-informed visitors.”

While AI Mode is still in its testing phase, its introduction signals Google’s evolving approach to search. Rather than overhauling the entire experience, the company appears to be layering AI across all aspects of how users interact with its platform—marking a significant shift in how information is discovered online.