Google has begun the nationwide rollout of AI Mode, a significant evolution of its search technology that CEO Sundar Pichai called a 'total reimagining of search' during the recent Google I/O 2025 developer conference.
AI Mode, which was initially tested in Google Labs earlier this year, is now becoming available to all U.S. users without requiring special sign-up. The feature represents Google's most advanced AI search capability to date, powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.0.
Under the hood, AI Mode employs a 'query fan-out technique' that breaks down complex questions into subtopics and simultaneously issues multiple queries. This allows the system to dive deeper into web content than traditional search, providing more comprehensive answers to nuanced, multi-part questions that previously would have required several separate searches.
Early testers have embraced the new functionality, with users asking queries that are two to three times longer than traditional searches. The system excels at tasks requiring exploration, comparisons, and reasoning, while maintaining the ability to follow up with additional questions in a conversational manner.
The rollout represents a strategic shift for Google as it adapts its business model to an AI-first approach. The company has already begun testing ads within AI Mode, with advertisers using Performance Max, Shopping, and Search campaigns with 'broad match' being eligible to have their ads displayed in the new interface. Later this year, these ad formats will expand globally to select countries on both mobile and desktop platforms, focusing initially on English-language queries.
Google is also developing additional capabilities for AI Mode, including Deep Search for thorough research, integration with Project Astra for enhanced visual capabilities, and data visualization features for sports and finance queries. These advanced features will initially be available to Labs users in the coming months before wider release.
While AI Overviews have already reached more than 1.5 billion monthly users across 200 countries and territories, the full AI Mode experience is currently limited to the United States. The company has not yet announced specific timelines for international expansion of AI Mode, though its trajectory suggests a phased global rollout will follow the U.S. launch.