Prime Highlight
- Google is testing a new Search feature that merges AI Overviews with AI Mode to let users shift seamlessly from standard search results into a conversational AI experience.
- The experiment aims to make searching more flexible by allowing users to turn simple queries into deeper discussions without switching tabs.
Key Facts
- AI Mode, powered by Google’s Gemini AI, launched in the U.S. in May and expanded globally in August.
- The new test adds a “continue the conversation” option directly within AI Overviews, enabling users to move instantly into a chat-based interface.
Background
Google is testing a new Search feature that combines its AI Overviews with AI Mode to make finding information online more natural and easy. The move brings two of Google’s major AI tools together, letting users shift from simple search queries to deeper conversations without switching between tabs.
AI Mode, which allows users to chat with Google’s Gemini AI, first launched to U.S. users in May and became available globally in August. Until now, users had to decide in advance whether they wanted a quick answer through standard Search or a more detailed, interactive session inside the AI Mode tab.
With this new experiment, Google wants to remove that barrier. When users receive an AI Overview at the top of their search results, a feature that gives a quick, AI-generated summary of information, they will now see an option to continue the conversation. A question that starts as basic can easily turn into a deeper exploration as users ask follow-up queries in a conversational interface.
Google says the aim is to understand if separating traditional search and AI chat still makes sense. The company believes many users begin with straightforward questions but end up wanting more context or clarity. By combining the experiences, Google hopes to make Search more flexible and intuitive.
The test shows that Google is working to put AI into all its main products and make it easier for people to move from basic searches to more advanced, AI-powered exploration.