Just a year ago, Google hinted at a massive shift in how we search for information. Instead of sifting through pages of links, Google promised a future where it does the searching for you—finding, summarizing, and delivering answers instantly. Fast forward to today, and that future is becoming reality with Google's latest experiment, AI Mode.
What is Google’s AI Mode?
Google’s AI Mode, currently available to Google One AI Premium subscribers, is a step toward making AI-generated answers the default experience in search. Built on a customized version of Gemini 2.0, AI Mode takes Google’s existing AI Overviews to the next level with more advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities. Instead of giving you a simple list of links, it delivers AI-powered responses while also allowing follow-up questions—something traditional search engines never did.
AI Mode vs. Traditional Google Search
Unlike regular Google Search, AI Mode can:
- Answer complex queries in a single response instead of requiring multiple searches.
- Provide follow-up capabilities, making it feel more like a conversation.
- Pull from a broader set of websites to create more detailed and useful answers.
- Offer real-time information, thanks to its direct connection to Google's search index.
Most importantly, AI Mode doesn’t just throw AI-generated summaries at you—it also includes helpful links. For example, if you're comparing sleep tracking devices, you’ll see a carousel of relevant websites along with the AI's answer. Google has taken steps to ensure the web remains a vital part of the search experience, even as AI plays a bigger role.
The Impact of AI Search on Businesses
While AI-powered search sounds great for users, businesses that rely on Google for traffic may see things differently. Many websites thrive on organic search clicks, and with AI Overviews answering more queries directly, fewer people may feel the need to visit the source pages.
This shift has already affected companies like Chegg, which offers paid study resources. With AI now providing free homework help, Chegg has struggled. As Google refines AI Mode, more businesses may find themselves in a similar situation, raising questions about how content creators and companies can stay relevant in an AI-dominated search landscape.
What AI Mode Gets Right (and Wrong)
In practice, AI Mode does a solid job answering queries—especially when it comes to product recommendations, travel suggestions, or general knowledge questions. However, there are some limitations:
- It avoids controversial topics. Ask about politics or social issues, and AI Mode may simply offer a list of web links instead of a generated response.
- It’s still evolving. Some features, like detailed comparison tables, were showcased in Google’s demo but are not yet widely available.
- It prioritizes consumer topics. AI Mode is more likely to generate answers when you ask about gadgets, shopping, or vacation spots, but it may be less helpful for more nuanced or creative queries.
The Future of AI-Powered Search
AI Mode is still an experiment, but history tells us that Google tends to scale up successful tests. AI Overviews started as a limited feature and now serve over 1 billion users. If AI Mode follows the same path, we may soon see AI-generated answers becoming the norm in search.
For now, Google is keeping links visible alongside AI responses, ensuring that websites still get some traffic. But as AI continues to improve, one big question remains: Will people still click on those links, or will AI become the final destination for answers?
