Media reports that, judging by unpublished code, Google searches will soon be more conversational thanks to artificial intelligence. This correlates with statements by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who promised that the search engine would change dramatically in 2025.
Details
Search may soon get an artificial intelligence mode that combines interactive discussions and other features that will make the main Google service act almost like a Gemini AI assistant.
The AI mode, which is being called AIM in the open source code, combines the human interaction of Gemini Live with Google Search and adds the visual insight and analysis you get from Google Lens. While in AIM, you’ll be able to respond to whatever Google Search comes up with. Instead of just a list of results, you’ll be able to ask follow-up questions, interrupt responses, and otherwise interact with Search in a way you would with Gemini Live.
The AI mode should be available as a tab in the bottom navigation bar of the Google app (if or when it comes out). In addition to using your voice to search, users will also be able to use photos taken with their phone or other uploaded photos. Then you can explain what exactly you want to search for.
The idea of an AI mode in Google Search is clear at first glance, but it raises a few questions in context. It seems like all the same features as Gemini, so what role will this assistant play??
Expanding Google Search with the ability to ask questions about photos and videos and enhancing the current voice interaction that transcribes voice queries could pave the way for Google Search to become part of Gemini, or vice versa.
It could also change the way we think about the world's most popular search engine. Instead of asking Google to say “show me results,” we could just ask it to give us a direct, thoughtful answer.