Google is making a significant move as it prepares to roll out a new “AI Mode” for its search engine, designed to offer an experience similar to that of the Gemini AI chatbot interface.
A report from The Information indicates that this AI Mode will be accessible through a dedicated tab in the search results menu, which currently features options like “All,” “Images,” “Videos,” and “Shopping.” This mode aims to enhance user accessibility and create a more intuitive experience, allowing users to pose follow-up inquiries related to the search results through a chatbot interface, according to the report.
Earlier disclosures from Android Authority found evidence of the AI Mode feature in a beta version of the Google Search mobile app as of early December. Screenshots revealed an icon representing AI Mode as a magnifying glass combined with a plus sign. Furthermore, 9to5Google previously reported that the AI Mode would include a voice input feature, enabling users to ask questions verbally.
While Google hasn’t publicly discussed this new development, it is clear that the company is in direct competition with OpenAI, the organization behind the ChatGPT chatbot. Following the launch of ChatGPT Search in late October, many noted that Google Search could face its most significant competition yet, given the rapid rise in ChatGPT’s popularity.
Research has shown that ChatGPT attracts considerable traffic, with around 3.7 billion visits to its site globally, in contrast to Google Chrome’s 3.45 billion users. This has led to speculation that OpenAI might develop an AI-powered browser to rival Google, although OpenAI executives have denied such plans. Meanwhile, OpenAI is focusing on enhancing its AI capabilities with a target of reaching 1 billion ChatGPT users by 2025 and has recently unveiled various AI advancements as part of its “12 days of OpenAI” initiative.
On the other hand, analysts have pointed out that Google’s recent advancements in its search engine have primarily concentrated on AI-generated summaries. The company has begun to extend support for this feature into several new markets. To date, Google’s AI strategy seems to involve integrating its traditional features into Gemini, as opposed to the reverse.
