What is Google AI Mode in Search?

Google AI Mode is now officially available to all users beyond Google Pixel, and no sign-in to Google Labs is required. You may have already tried it or seen someone using its full capabilities. If not, this is the perfect time to explore it.

This isn’t your traditional Google Search experience. AI Mode transforms how you interact with information, offering a completely new and immersive way to browse. Integrated directly into Google Search, it can answer almost anything you ask, not just through typing, but also using your voice, an image, or even a live video.

Yes, you read that right, you can ask live questions just by opening your camera. Amazing, isn’t it? It truly feels like we’re stepping into a whole new era of intelligent and interactive searching.

To better understand how AI Mode transforms your search experience, here’s a deep dive into what it is and how it works:

What is Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is a next-generation search experience built directly into Google Search, powered by the advanced Gemini 2.x language models. It transforms traditional searches by generating conversational, AI-generated responses instead of just listing links or snippets. The system can break down complex or multi-part queries into subtopics, conduct simultaneous searches, and synthesize findings into a clear, readable overview.

What sets AI Mode apart is its multimodal capability: you can interact using text, voice, or images, and even use your phone’s camera for live video searching. Whether you’re snapping a photo, speaking a question aloud, or typing your query, AI Mode understands context and delivers helpful responses all within the familiar Google Search interface.

Launched experimentally in March 2025 through Search Labs, AI Mode has since rolled out more broadly in the U.S., India, and the U.K., but still operates as an opt-in experience for many users. You can enable it by selecting the dedicated AI Mode tab inside Google Search on mobile or desktop. As Google refines the feature with user feedback, it’s gradually expanding globally, offering richer, more intuitive search interactions.

How To Access Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is available directly through the Google Search bar with a glowing icon named "AI Mode". Initially launched via Search Labs, this feature was opt-in only. As of mid-2025, Google has started rolling it out more widely, especially in countries like the United States, India, and the United Kingdom. If you are in one of these supported regions, you can see the “AI Mode” tab in Google Search on Chrome or the Google app for Android and iOS. If you are using the Google app, then you can also enable or disable AI Mode search from the custom widget shortcuts settings.

On mobile, this appears as a toggle or extra card above regular search results. On a desktop, it may show as a separate section at the top. In some devices, tapping the mic icon or camera icon also opens access to the multimodal AI features built into the mode. If you don't see this option, you can go to labs.google.com/search and manually enroll if it’s still available in your country.

Importantly, while Google AI Mode is part of the Search experience, it differs from Gemini chat. You don’t need to visit a separate site like gemini.google.com. Instead, AI Mode blends into your regular browsing and searching activities, offering instant answers, breakdowns, summaries, and follow-up suggestions all within the main Google interface. Over time, it is expected to become the default search experience for many users as Google continues its AI-first transformation.

How To Use Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is powered by Google's advanced Gemini models, which are designed to handle multiple types of input like text, images, audio, and video. Instead of simply matching keywords like traditional search, Gemini understands the context behind your query and responds with smart, conversational answers. This allows AI Mode to offer a more natural and interactive experience.

You can interact with AI Mode in several ways. Here are the three main modes of interaction available in Google AI Mode:

1. Text Input Mode

You can simply type your question or search query in the usual Google Search bar. With AI Mode enabled, instead of standard blue links, you'll receive AI-generated overviews with relevant insights, summaries, and suggested next steps. It makes your search more informative and contextual.

2. Voice Input Mode

Using your microphone, you can speak your queries just like talking to a voice assistant. AI Mode processes your speech in real time and returns results in the same AI-generated format. It’s great for hands-free use or when you're on the move.

3. Visual (Camera) Input Mode

This is one of the most futuristic features. You can point your camera at an object, document, or place and ask questions about it. For example, take a photo of a math problem or a plant, and AI Mode will try to answer or provide information based on what it sees, like Google Lens, but now powered by generative AI for smarter responses. 

This makes Google AI Mode feel less like a search engine and more like a helpful assistant that works across different inputs.

The underlying Gemini model is capable of drawing on the latest information from the web while simultaneously integrating learned user preferences to refine its output over time. This makes Google AI Mode not only faster and more convenient than older search methods, but also significantly more intelligent and capable. It represents a major leap forward in how users find, understand, and interact with information online.

How Is Google AI Mode Different from ChatGPT or Gemini?

As AI tools become more integrated into our daily digital lives, it’s natural to wonder how Google's new AI Mode stands apart from other popular tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. While all three leverage powerful AI models, their purpose, design, and experience vary greatly. Here's how AI Mode differs:

AI Mode vs ChatGPT:

ChatGPT is a conversational AI designed for open-ended dialogue, writing, learning, and creative tasks. You usually access it through a dedicated interface like the ChatGPT website or app. In contrast, Google AI Mode is embedded directly into Google Search. It enhances your search experience with live, AI-generated overviews and real-time web results. Plus, AI Mode supports multimodal input—you can interact using text, voice, or even your phone’s camera to ask about what you see.

AI Mode vs Gemini App:

Google Gemini is a standalone AI app that functions like a full digital assistant. It’s better suited for in-depth tasks like writing, brainstorming, or coding. While both Gemini and AI Mode are powered by Google’s Gemini models, AI Mode is focused on enriching the search experience, not replacing your assistant. It helps you get instant answers while browsing or searching, especially using visual or spoken input.

The Core Difference:

Google AI Mode is search-enhancing and visually interactive, while ChatGPT and the Gemini app are conversation-based and more general-purpose. AI Mode is ideal when you want quick, AI-powered context while browsing, especially when using your phone's camera or voice, making it feel like a smart layer over traditional Google Search.

Conclusion.

Google AI Mode represents a significant leap in how we interact with information online. Unlike traditional search experiences, it brings AI directly into your fingertips, allowing you to search and learn using text, voice, images, or even live video. Whether you’re looking for quick facts, exploring visual content, or asking complex questions in natural language, AI Mode simplifies and enhances the process with speed and context.

Its integration into everyday Google Search means you don’t need to switch to a different app or platform. The experience is seamless, intuitive, and designed to feel like you’re having a conversation with your browser. And with Google continuing to expand its multimodal capabilities, this is just the beginning of a new era of intelligent, interactive browsing.

If you haven’t tried it yet, now’s the perfect time to explore Google AI Mode and see how it can reshape your digital habits.

Google Introduces Opal: A Vibe-Coding Tool for Building Web Apps.

Key Takeaway.

• Google’s Opal lets users create and share mini web apps using only text prompts, backed by a visual workflow editor and optional manual tweaks.
• The platform targets non-technical users and positions Google in the expanding "vibe-coding" space alongside startups and design platforms.

Google has begun testing an experimental app builder called Opal, available through Google Labs in the U.S. This new tool allows users to create functional mini web applications using only natural language prompts and no coding required. Opal aims to simplify app development, making it more accessible to creators, designers, and professionals without engineering backgrounds.

What Is Opal and How Does It Work?

Opal enables users to write a plain-language description of the app they want to build. Google's models then generate a visual workflow composed of inputs, AI prompts, outputs, and logic steps that form the backbone of the application. You can click each step to see or edit the prompt, adjust functionality, or add new steps manually using the built-in toolbar. When you are satisfied, you can publish the app and share it using a Google account link.

This interactive, visual-first approach is designed to overcome limitations of text-only vibe coding by providing clear, editable workflows. Opal supports remixing apps from a gallery of templates or building from scratch, promoting rapid experimentation.

Where Opal Fits in Google’s Vision.

While Google already offers an AI-based coding platform through AI Studio, Opal represents a broader push toward design-first and low-code tools. The visual workflow makes app logic easier to understand and edit, lowering the barrier to app creation for non-technical users. Google’s intention is to expand access to app prototyping beyond developers.

Opal positions Google alongside startups like Replit, Cursor, and design platforms like Canva and Figma. These tools are capturing attention by democratizing software creation using prompts and visual editors, growing demand for intuitive generative coding.

What It Means for Developers and Creators.

Creators and innovators can use Opal to prototype generative workflows, interactive tools, or productivity automations without writing code. Educators could also leverage it to build simple teaching aids or demonstrations. With a public beta released in the U.S., developers in labs can begin exploring and testing apps, providing feedback for future development.

The turn toward a visual workflow also offers more clarity and control, reducing confusion between prompt input and actual behavior. This can help users fine-tune apps step by step, something that traditional prompt-only systems struggle to offer.