For the longest time, Google Search has tided users over with information from all sorts of sources, including news articles and research papers, but even the world’s biggest search engine isn’t immune to the artificial intelligence (AI) rage. At this year’s annual Google I/O event, the tech giant announced that Search is getting a heavy dose of AI, alongside a slew of updates across Android, Gemini, and more.
Powered by the latest Gemini 3.5 model, Search now supports input for files, videos, images, and Chrome tabs, with AI-powered suggestions included for text-based searches. According to Google, the list of website links and AI summaries is still displayed, and users who ask follow-up questions in AI Overview (that appears at the top of regular search results) will be redirected to AI Mode, which remains a separate tab. The search engine can also access apps such as Gmail and Calendar through Google’s Personal Intelligence feature.
Additionally, “information agents” are being rolled out to Search, offering an alternative to manual search. Designed to run 24/7 in the background, they scan websites, social media posts, and other platforms in real time to accomplish tasks assigned by users that range anywhere from checking out apartment listings to finding the right sneaker size.
The agentic experience is complemented by a custom “mini app” tool, granting access to dashboards that help to plan specific tasks and track progress. It will launch first for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S. ahead of wider availability in the coming months, while the agents are set to debut this summer for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
While the AI makeover has been a long time coming, it doesn’t necessarily bode well for the industry. Hallucinations are still persistent, despite the official Google blog post stating that AI Mode has surpassed one billion monthly users, and reduced organic traffic is a major concern for brands and publishers who rely on clicks and online presence.
Alongside the biggest Search upgrade in over 20 years, other Google I/O announcements include Gemini Omni, a new model that can combine images, audio, video, and text, the Project Aura smart glasses, the all-new Pics app (not to be confused with Google Pictures), and more.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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