The way we think of search is changing forever thanks to the power of Google’s Gemini within Google Search. Announced at the company’s annual developer event “Google I/O”, a new “AI Mode” will be added to Google Search allowing users to dig deep into a query for a complex and comprehensive response.
Traditional Google Search will remain the same, though it has changed dramatically in recent years. But thanks to the success of their “AI Summaries” in search, Google is creating then option for users to go all-in on AI.
Powered by Google’s Gemini AI Models, AI Mode allows deeply detailed questions and queries to be submitted, and the response – instead of a list of websites that can help answer the query, will be a detailed answer – essentially a report outlining everything you wanted to know.
One of Google’s examples was a query “help me research affordable summer camps within a 10 min drive for my 9 and 6 year old. include camp dates and schedules, pricing, after care support, activities offered like field trips, swimming, stem, etc., application deadlines and parent reviews. recommend which is best if I only need camp for July, the older one likes science, the other likes sports, it doesn’t have to be the same camp just close proximity to each other.”
To even begin to get an answer to this would take multiple searches, visits to a large number of sites and a lot of effort to compile that into a report. But Google’s AI Mode can do it all for you.
You’ll get maps, links, tabulated summaries all compiled into a single report. This is quite remarkable.
And it can be any form of search.
Another example related to searching for a product. Explain in detail in your question what you’re after, what you’re tastes are, what you had in mind, and refine as much as you need.
You’ll get a range of results, displayed in image form allowing you to literally browse the products available in real-time.
AI Mode will not be the default Google Search, but one can imagine, particularly given how younger generations are using AI Summaries as the be all and end all of search, that at the very least allowing users to set AI Mode as their default, could be coming sooner rather than later.
Trevor Long traveled to San Francisco with support from Google Australia
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair.
Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave.
