Google Integrates AI Overviews With AI Mode in New Search Test
As competitive pressure intensifies across the AI industry, Google has begun testing a feature that blends AI Overviews with its conversational AI Mode. The update allows users who receive an AI-generated summary at the top of Search results to continue exploring the topic by asking follow-up questions in a chat-style interface. AI Mode, which launched in the U.S. in May and expanded globally in August, supports back-and-forth interactions powered by Gemini and functions similarly to other conversational AI tools.
Previously, users had to decide whether to begin with a standard search or switch to the AI Mode tab when exploring a topic in more depth. However, this often required predicting in advance whether a question would lead to additional queries. Because information seeking can shift quickly, many users found themselves needing more context after starting with a simple search. Therefore, Google is now testing a smoother transition between the two experiences.
With the new update, users can explore topics seamlessly in AI Mode directly from the Search results page. Although the feature is rolling out globally, it is currently available only on mobile devices.
Competitive Growth and Strategic Timing
The timing aligns with increasing momentum for Gemini. Recent updates, including the Nano Banana image model, have contributed to rapid growth, pushing Gemini to more than 650 million monthly users as of November. At the same time, AI Overviews serve over 2 billion monthly users. Consequently, merging conversational features with widely used summaries could strengthen Gemini’s presence among consumers.
This shift also follows a broader trend in the AI sector, where major developers are prioritising improvements to chat-based tools while delaying other projects. As competition escalates, companies appear focused on refining conversational interfaces to attract and retain users.
Toward a More Natural Search Flow
The new test aims to streamline the search experience by removing the need to choose between tabs before asking a question. Users will continue receiving an AI Overview as a starting point and can then ask follow-up questions in AI Mode from the same screen. The goal is to allow users to ask anything—short or complex—without changing how they navigate Search.
