Google is constantly evolving its search capabilities, and the latest development is the introduction of AI Mode, an experimental feature in Search Labs. Building upon the foundation of AI Overviews, AI Mode offers a more advanced and interactive way to find information and explore complex topics.
This new mode leverages a custom version of the Gemini 2.0 model to provide deeper reasoning, thinking, and multimodal capabilities, allowing you to ask even your toughest questions.
What Google’s AI Mode does?
AI Mode aims to make searching more effortless and comprehensive by combining advanced AI with Google’s vast information systems. Unlike traditional search, AI Mode can handle nuanced questions that previously might have required multiple searches. For instance, you could ask about the “difference in sleep tracking features between a smart ring, smartwatch, and tracking mat” and get a synthesized response.
AI Mode is particularly helpful for queries that need further investigation, comparisons, and logical reasoning. It employs a “query fan-out” technique, running multiple related searches across various subtopics and data sources concurrently to bring you a well-rounded answer. Similar to a chatbot, AI Mode allows you to ask follow-up questions to delve deeper into a topic without losing the original context. For example, after asking about sleep tracking features, you could follow up with “what happens to your heart rate during deep sleep?”.
Many-to-One
Besides AI Mode generating its own summaries, it also provides links to relevant web content, making it easy for you to explore the sources of information further. AI Mode taps into fresh, real-time sources like the Knowledge Graph and shopping data for billions of products, in addition to high-quality web content.
One user found AI Mode incredibly helpful for researching small-sided soccer tactics, receiving not only answers to their questions but also unexpected training tips. Even when the initial response wasn’t perfect (focusing on 5v5 instead of 7v7), the user could easily refine the query with a follow-up question.
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AI Mode can consolidate information from numerous websites into one easy-to-understand response, potentially saving you significant time compared to conducting multiple individual searches. One user noted that researching soccer tactics manually would have involved visiting multiple sites for different aspects, whereas AI Mode brought everything together.
How to Try Google’s AI Mode
AI Mode is currently an experimental feature available through Search Labs. The experiment is currently available in English to users over the age of 18 in the US who opt-in via Labs. You may need to join a waitlist for the experiment. Google will notify you when it’s available to you.
You can access AI Mode in a few ways:
- Go to google.com/aimode.
- Go to www.google.com, enter a question in the Search bar, and tap AI Mode below the Search bar.
- On the Google app, tap AI Mode below the Search bar of the home screen.
Other Features to Know
- Asking Questions: You can ask questions using text or voice in the “Ask AI Mode” bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Follow-Up Questions: To ask a follow-up or new question, simply type or speak into the same bar.
- Switching Between Results: You can tap “All” at the top of the screen to go back and forth between traditional search results and AI Mode.
- Turning On/Off: You can manage the “Ask anything with AI Mode” feature in Chrome’s Labs settings.
- AI Mode History: You can view and delete your past AI Mode searches in the AI Mode History.
Important Considerations
As an early-stage AI product, it carries the inherent risk of errors, potentially misinterpreting web content or overlooking crucial context. To address this, Google emphasizes the importance of user feedback, encouraging ratings and detailed comments to facilitate improvements. The introduction of AI Mode has also ignited conversations about its potential repercussions for publishers, particularly regarding website traffic. Concerns have arisen within the media industry that such AI features, by synthesizing information directly, could negatively impact news outlets by utilizing their content without adequate compensation or attribution, potentially “bleeding news media dry.”
Google’s AI Mode represents an exciting step towards a more intelligent and conversational search experience. Its ability to handle complex queries, facilitate deeper exploration, and provide concise, AI-powered responses alongside web links offers significant potential benefits for users. If you have the opportunity to try it through Search Labs, your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of Google Search.
