Google is adding a new chatbot-like feature called “AI Mode” to its search engine amid a push to further incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into its products.
“AI Mode” will appear as a new tab for Google search users starting Tuesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced at the company’s annual developer conference.
“For those who want an end-to-end AI search experience, we are introducing an all-new AI Mode,” Pichai said. “It’s a total reimagining of search.”
Much like other AI chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s AI Mode pulls together information to provide users with an answer to their query, rather than a list of links as in traditional search. It also allows users to pose follow-up questions.
Starting this summer, AI Mode will start incorporating users’ past queries into its responses, said Liz Reid, head of search. It will also eventually include deep research and agentic capabilities.
The tech giant began adding AI features to its search engine last year with the introduction of AI overviews. Its newest feature appears largely geared at competing with AI chatbots.
Google has underscored the competition that it faces from the likes of ChatGPT, Grok and DeepSeek as it seeks to keep the company intact in the face of the Department of Justice’s push to break up the firm.
The federal government has asked a judge to require Google to sell off its Chrome browser, after a ruling last August found the company had an illegal monopoly over online search. It has argued that Google’s dominance in search will give it an unfair advantage in the AI race.
The two sides made their case for proper remedies to the search decision in a three-week hearing in late April and early May. Pichai highlighted the competitive nature of the field of AI when he took the stand late last month.
“I’m pleased with the progress [on AI], but we have a big gap between us and the market leader in this space,” he said, referring to OpenAI, which he noted beat out Google for a deal with Apple.
