Google introduces AI Mode, its new advanced search experience based on generative AI

Google continues to explore new ways to enrich the experience in its search engine, with artificial intelligence being the essential ingredient. The two latest innovations presented by the technology giant are based on this technology. First, the integration of Gemini 2.0 into AI Overviews and, secondly, the launch of the new AI Mode search function.

Gemini 2.0 boosts AI Overviews

According to Google data, more than one billion people are already using AI Overviews, its previews comprised of texts and relevant links generated with AI that are displayed directly in search results.

The technology giant has decided to take this generative search function one step further with the integration of Gemini 2.0. in the United States, enabling it to offer faster and higher quality responses. Additionally, this will also encourage AI Overviews to be shown more frequently to users.

Furthermore, Google assures that the AI of Gemini 2.0 will be able to «assist with more difficult questions», which are related to code, mathematics, or multimodal searches (combining text, images, and other formats).

In addition, the company has also announced it is extending this function to more groups of people, allowing teenagers to now use AI Overviews without needing to log in for access.

It is worth noting that, although this generative search tool is available in more than 120 countries, it is not yet active in Spain and the rest of the European Union countries. And as mentioned, for now, Gemini 2.0 will only be available in AI Overviews in the United States.

• AI Overviews are expanding to more than 100 countries (and none of them are on the EU)

AI Mode, the new experimental search mode by Google

For advanced users, Google has designed a new experimental mode called AI Mode, which takes AI capabilities even further. «This new search mode expands what AI Overviews can do with more advanced multimodal capabilities, reasoning, and thinking so that you can receive assistance even with your most challenging questions». All of this is fully integrated into Google’s Search.

In addition to offering useful and comprehensive responses, AI Mode allows you to go further in your queries by posing follow-up complementary questions and accessing useful web links that the AI uses as information sources.

AI Mode uses a customized version of Gemini 2.0 and stands out for its ability to handle queries that require advanced reasoning, option comparisons, or exploration of topics from different angles. It is currently only available to Google One AI Premium subscribers through Google Labs, a platform that, unfortunately, is still not accessible in Spain.

✨ AI Mode expands on AI Overviews with more advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities. We’re starting to roll it out to Google One AI Premium subscribers as an opt-in experiment in Labs.

Sign up for early access → https://t.co/82LFV03FAP pic.twitter.com/GfFkYoKZ4i

— Google (@Google) March 5, 2025

How the combination of AI and Google’s search engine works

What makes AI Mode truly special is how it combines the power of Gemini 2.0 with access to the Google Knowledge Graph, alongside real-time sources on products, news, and other updated content. Thanks to this integration, the AI engine can perform a process known as query fan-out, launching several simultaneous searches on related subtopics and then gathering the information into a single clear and structured response.

This approach allows Google not only to deliver responses generated by AI but also to continue displaying direct access to relevant web content. «Helping people discover web content remains fundamental to our approach, and with the AI mode, we are facilitating exploration and action for individuals. With the model’s deep information retrieval, people can better express what they are looking for (with all its nuances and limitations) and access the appropriate web content in various formats».

Google provides an example of the following case: you can ask AI Mode «what is the difference in sleep tracking features between a smart ring, a smartwatch, and a tracking mat?» and its customized version of Gemini 2.0 will employ its multi-step process to draft a plan, conduct searches, and adjust this plan based on the information it finds.

On the other hand, if you want to know more about this topic, you can pose complementary questions such as, «what happens to my heart rate during deep sleep?» and you will quickly receive easy-to-digest answers with links to relevant sources.

AI Mode, a feature in development

This new search mode is not a definitive feature, but part of a controlled experiment within Google Labs. For now, only some users will be able to try it, specifically Google One AI Premium subscribers, who will be the first to receive the invitation.

Through this testing system, Google will gather feedback to adjust the quality of responses, improve objectivity, and avoid potential biases in text generation. The company acknowledges that, being in an early stage, some responses might reflect unintended opinions, something they hope to resolve as the system learns and is refined.

In addition, they are already working on incorporating more visual responses, with images, videos, and enriched formats, as well as new ways to navigate and access relevant content.

Photo: Google