What is Google AI mode how it will change search and what are its implications? Explained

During the 2025 Google I/O conference, the tech giant unveiled AI Mode for Google Search. It is a sweeping transformation set to redefine how users navigate the internet. The new feature is now live and available for all users from 20th May 2025. It centres around Google’s own AI model, Gemini.

During the 2025 Google I/O conference, the tech giant unveiled AI Mode for Google Search. It is a sweeping transformation set to redefine how users navigate the internet. The new feature is now live and available for all users from 20th May 2025. It centres around Google’s own AI model, Gemini.

Beyond summaries – What is Google AI Mode?

AI Mode is not to be confused with AI Overview, the summarising feature that was introduced by Google back in May 2025. While AI Overview is clumsy and provides condensed answers using the older PaLM 2 model, AI Mode marks a significant leap forward. Notably, the answers provided by AI Overview are often questionable and their accuracy cannot be trusted.

AI Mode is powered by the more advanced Gemini 2.5 model. It includes the revamped AI Overview, Deep Search, Search Live and Google’s latest venture into agentic AI via Project Mariner. All these tools collectively offer an integrated, context-aware, conversational interface to the web, and potentially a farewell to the tab-hopping days of traditional search.

Reservations, tickets, and tasks — all in one search

While demonstrating AI Mode’s agentic capabilities, Google showcased scenarios where the AI could secure event tickets and book a dinner reservation within a single query. The feature, although not shown at its full potential, was enough to stun the audience with its ability to execute long-chain instructions with impressive accuracy.

AI Mode effectively eliminates the need to visit individual websites. It packages the information sourced from dozens of potential pages into a neat chat window. Fewer clicks mean less ad revenue and lower affiliate traffic, which is the lifeblood of digital journalism and blogging.

Let’s take an example which Google presented. Google showed a mock scenario of a parent searching for summer camp options. Rather than visiting multiple camp websites, the user simply interacted with AI Mode, which compiled and refined the results within Google’s interface. Every skipped site is a lost opportunity for publishers.