Tech

Google introduces "AI mode" in new phase of search engine

Tech giant Google continues its push into artificial intelligence, transforming its search engine and changing how we consume information online. At its annual developer conference in California, the company unveiled several new features, including a new “AI Mode” feature and the latest version of its Gemini 2.5 engine.

Google announced that the “AI Mode” is now available to all US users. The company says the new feature makes searching more like a conversation with an expert capable of answering a wide range of questions. The feature was introduced just two and a half months after a limited group of people in Google Labs tested its experimental version.

The new Gemini 2.5 engine is also being integrated into Google’s search algorithms. The company plans to test other AI features in the future, including the ability to search through live video streams and automatically buy concert tickets.

In another example of its “full engagement” with artificial intelligence, Google said it was returning to the smart glasses market. The company showed a prototype of a new generation of glasses running Android XR, complete with a hands-free camera and a voice-activated AI assistant. The move comes 13 years after the failure of Google Glass, which was shut down over privacy concerns.

The company didn’t say when the new glasses would be available or how much they would cost. It’s only known that they will be made in partnership with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The glasses will compete with models currently on the market from Meta and Ray-Ban.

Google’s AI transformation began a year ago by introducing conversational summaries called “AI overviews,” which often appear at the top of search results, replacing the traditional navigation bar. According to Google, around 1.5 billion people use these summaries regularly, and searches have become longer and more complex.