Google is opening up access to its new AI-powered search engine tool for the first time.
The new ‘AI Mode’ in Google Search responds to users’ search queries with AI-generated responses. The information will be pulled from within Google’s search index.
A small percentage of users in the US will be able to test out the AI search tool outside of Google’s Labs sandbox in the next few weeks, the company announced in a blog post published on Thursday, May 1.
“Based on the incredibly positive feedback we’re getting, we’re removing the waitlist so anyone in the U.S. can now get immediate access to AI Mode in Labs — and we’re adding new features to help you get things done,” Google said.
AI Mode is considered to be Google’s response to rivals such as Perplexity and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which offer their own takes on how users find information online.
These emerging players are increasingly seen as a credible threat to Google’s long-standing dominance in the search business. This also comes at a time when the tech giant is under mounting pressure from antitrust cases in the US that could fundamentally reshape or even dismantle its search empire.
What is AI Mode?
Unlike traditional search engines that provide links to websites based on a user’s query, Google’s AI Mode will answer those questions with an AI-generated response containing information within Google’s search index.
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AI Mode is also different from AI Overviews, available in Google Search, since the latter provides an AI-generated summary of information. AI Overviews appear between the Google search bar and URL results.
On Thursday, Google further announced new features coming to AI Mode. Now, users will have access to their past search topics on a new left-side panel within the AI search engine. This is designed to let users quickly circle back to previous topics and ask follow-up queries.
“Just click the new left-side panel to get to your past searches — each topic will include the info that AI Mode already found for you, and you can ask follow-up questions or take your next steps,” Google said.
In the coming week, the big tech company is also rolling out visual place and product cards within AI Mode. Users can tap these elements to see more details about restaurants, salons, stores, etc. These place and product cards will contain details such as ratings, reviews, opening hours of local spots, promotional details on a shopping product, etc.
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“For example, if you’re looking for the best vintage shops for mid-century modern furniture, AI Mode will show local stores along with helpful insights like live busyness, and you can easily call or get directions,” Google said. Users that have access to AI Mode will see a dedicated tab for the AI search engine at the top, along with other Search tabs such as ‘All’, ‘Images’, ‘Videos’, ‘News’, and ‘Shopping’.
