- AI Mode now available to all U.S. users 18+ via Google Labs, with limited testing outside Labs in Search.
- New visual cards for places and products include ratings, prices, reviews, and local inventory.
- Users can now pick up past searches and ask follow-up questions with a new session panel on desktop.
Google is rolling out a major expansion of its AI Mode, a feature designed to enhance search by allowing users to ask complex, multi-part questions and engage in deeper topic exploration. Initially launched in March to rival tools like Perplexity AI and ChatGPT Search, AI Mode is now becoming more widely available, offering an upgraded and more interactive search experience.
With this update, the waitlist for AI Mode has been eliminated. Anyone in the United States aged 18 or older can now access the feature by joining Google Labs, the company’s experimental platform. In addition, Google has begun testing an AI Mode tab directly in the main Search interface, making it visible to a small portion of users even outside of Labs, signaling a potential broader integration in the near future.
New capabilities are also being introduced, allowing users to go beyond factual queries and begin planning real-world activities. AI Mode now supports more visually rich and contextual search results. For example, when exploring local businesses like restaurants or salons, users will see visual cards with ratings, reviews, hours of operation, and directions. Product searches will return current pricing, promotional offers, images, and availability, streamlining the decision-making process.
These updates are geared toward making AI Mode more practical for everyday use. Whether it’s finding a niche vintage store with specific furniture styles or searching for travel gear under a budget, AI Mode delivers curated results with actionable options. Users can even call businesses or view directions directly from the AI-generated results, turning a search query into an immediate next step.
To make ongoing research easier, Google is introducing session continuity. A new side panel on desktop allows users to revisit past queries and continue their exploration without starting from scratch. This feature supports more thoughtful, long-term use of Search, positioning AI Mode as a tool not just for quick answers, but for project planning and discovery over time.
