Google has unveiled a major update to its search engine, introducing a new AI-powered mode designed to deliver smarter, deeper, and more interactive search results. The feature, now available in the United States, represents a key step in Google’s push to embed generative artificial intelligence more deeply into its core products.
At the company’s annual I/O developers’ conference, CEO Sundar Pichai said the innovation reflects “decades of research,” enabling users to pose longer, more complex questions and receive responses that go far beyond traditional search capabilities.
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Unlike previous features, the new mode allows follow-up queries and processes information across different formats, including text, images, and video.
Google’s head of search, Liz Reid, noted that the AI system scans the web more thoroughly than before, making the search experience more comprehensive and engaging. Since the introduction of AI Overviews last year, more than 1.5 billion people have used the feature, positioning Google Search as the largest generative AI product globally.
However, the development comes at a time of increasing pressure. Experts have warned that replacing conventional “blue link” search results with AI summaries could undermine online advertising revenue and reduce traffic to publishers. News outlets and platforms like Wikipedia have already raised concerns over the potential decline in user engagement.
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Meanwhile, Apple’s Eddy Cue recently disclosed a drop in Google search usage on Apple devices for the first time in over 20 years—linked to competition from AI-based services like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Google also announced an “Ultra” AI subscription plan, priced at $250 per month, offering high-end tools like autonomous AI agents and real-time assistance in its Chrome browser.