In its latest push to transform how the world accesses information, Google has unveiled a new AI-powered search experience that marks a significant departure from the keyword-based search model we’ve known for decades.
During its annual developer conference on May 20, the tech giant laid out a roadmap that leans heavily into artificial intelligence, positioning its search engine less as a tool for retrieving links and more as an intelligent agent capable of understanding context, processing complex tasks, and even interacting with a user’s physical environment.
The shift signals Google’s intention to remain competitive in a space that’s becoming increasingly crowded with AI-driven alternatives like ChatGPT and Perplexity, both of which are offering users more conversational and efficient ways to navigate the internet.
From keywords to context
Google’s new direction is built around what it’s calling ‘AI Mode’, a feature that breaks down user queries into smaller, more manageable parts, generates additional searches behind the scenes, and responds with a more targeted and nuanced answer.
Rather than simply scanning the web for keyword matches, the system attempts to understand what a person truly wants to know and how best to deliver that insight.
AI Mode is being rolled out more widely across the United States through the Google app, following a limited test phase via Google’s Labs program.
The company says it will eventually personalise results further by drawing on a user’s previous search history, making each interaction smarter over time.
A broader AI ecosystem
The innovations introduced this week extend beyond text-based interaction. Google is investing in more immersive forms of search, including real-time visual inputs.
Through smartphone cameras, users will soon be able to show Google what they’re seeing, whether it’s a product, a part, or a place, and ask questions about it directly. This evolution builds on Google Lens but deepens the level of AI integration and responsiveness.
Perhaps even more ambitious is the company’s Project Mariner, a feature still in testing, which aims to allow users to delegate multi-step tasks, like booking tickets or making appointments, to Google’s AI.
Rather than directing users to a site where they can perform the task themselves, Google will handle several steps in the process, pulling data, filling forms, and presenting final options.
Responding to pressure
These upgrades come at a time when Google’s dominance in the search space is under pressure. Competitors are fast gaining ground, offering not just alternative search methods, but more personalised, fluid digital experiences.
The rise of generative AI tools has exposed some of the limitations of traditional search, especially when users are looking for direct answers, curated results, or support in completing specific tasks.
The company is betting on a future where search is not a static activity but an ongoing, dynamic interaction between the user and a digital assistant that can reason, anticipate, and act.
Questions on accessibility
While the announcements signal a bold step forward, there is still a noticeable absence of detail regarding the global availability of these new tools.
As of now, AI Mode and its most advanced capabilities are available to users in the U.S, and there is no clear timeline for a broader rollout.
