Google has officially introduced its AI Mode within Google Search in India, marking a significant upgrade to traditional web search and a direct response to rising platforms like Perplexity AI. The new AI Mode is currently being offered as an experimental feature in Google Labs.
"AI Mode is designed to handle longer and more intricate questions, synthesising information to provide direct and detailed answers, rather than just a list of links."
This shift signifies Google's intent to go beyond keyword-based search and deliver conversational, context-rich answers, thanks to its custom version of Gemini 2.5, Google’s most advanced language model.
At the heart of AI Mode lies a custom-tuned Gemini 2.5 model, which allows Google to process complex and layered user queries more effectively.
For instance, a user can type: “Suggest me the most eco-friendly way to get around town for the commute to office and include some good Italian restaurants on the way back.” Google AI Mode can break this down and return a clear, intelligent, and actionable solution — not just a list of blue links.
“Users will not be limited to text-based queries but can also interact with AI Mode using voice and image inputs.”
This multimodal feature makes AI Mode more versatile and user-friendly. Whether you're speaking a query or uploading an image (say, a houseplant or a dish), AI Mode can understand and respond accordingly.
“You can show an image of a potted plant at the store and bring up all the necessary maintenance information related to it.”
“AI Mode will be available as an alternative to regular Google Search.”
Google is placing AI Mode as a dedicated tab, located next to the usual ‘All’ tab, which still delivers the traditional search format — web links, YouTube videos, and the AI Overview for complex prompts.
“AI Mode will be available as a tab next to the ‘All’ tab, which will now offer the traditional web search experience, i.e., web links, YouTube video links and AI Overview to complex questions.”
“In order to use AI Mode, you will need to head into Google Search Labs and enable AI Mode, since Google is offering it as an experimental feature for now, just like AI Overview.”
The feature is not enabled by default, and you must manually activate it within Google Labs to test the AI-driven experience.
With the launch of AI Mode in India, Google is taking a significant leap toward redefining the web search experience. Powered by the advanced Gemini 2.5 model, this experimental feature goes beyond traditional keyword-based searches to provide context-aware, conversational answers to both simple and complex queries.
By introducing multimodal capabilities—accepting voice and image inputs—Google is aiming for a more natural and intuitive user interaction model that aligns with evolving search behaviors. Positioned as a tab alongside the classic “All” search option, AI Mode allows users to choose between conventional link-based results and intelligent, AI-driven insights.
While still in the experimental stage via Google Search Labs, its performance could set the stage for broader rollout and global impact. As Google enters the same space occupied by competitors like Perplexity AI, its vast infrastructure and deep integration may give it a strategic edge. For now, AI Mode marks a promising evolution in digital search.