Google’s AI Mode Now Answers Image-Based Search Questions
Google is rapidly evolving how we search the web. In 2024, it began integrating AI into its search engine, but last month marked a significant shift. The introduction of AI Mode signaled a move away from traditional blue-link results. Now, Google has taken the next step: enabling AI Mode to understand and respond to image-based queries.
This upgrade allows users to include pictures as part of their search inputs. As the feature rolls out, a new camera icon will appear in the AI Mode search bar. With this, you can either upload an image or take a photo. The system, powered by a custom version of the Gemini large language model, processes the visual data alongside your query. It doesn’t work alone, though—Google Lens assists by identifying objects in the image, which helps AI Mode create more specific, layered searches using what’s known as a “fan-out technique.”
From Image to Insight: How It Works
Google provided an example to illustrate the new feature. Suppose a user uploads a photo showing a few book covers and asks for similar reading suggestions. Lens identifies the titles in the image, passing that data to Gemini. Then, AI Mode not only recognises the books but also suggests related ones, adapting based on any follow-up queries. As a result, the entire search experience becomes richer and more intuitive.
While this may feel futuristic, Google insists it’s already improving user experience. According to internal telemetry, users input nearly twice as much text into AI Mode compared to regular search. This could mean people are willing to provide more detail—or perhaps they feel they have to. Either way, it shows users are engaging with the tool in a deeper way.
Access Expands, But It’s Still Limited
Although AI Mode has technically been available for weeks, many users haven’t encountered it yet. Initially, it was limited to Google One AI Premium subscribers and had to be manually enabled via Google Labs. However, Google has begun expanding access to more users in the U.S., even those not on a premium plan. While opting in remains necessary, wider availability suggests a shift is underway.
Ultimately, Google sees AI Mode as essential to its future. Not only does it answer specific questions more effectively, but it also keeps Google at the center of online discovery. As access broadens, it may not be long before AI Mode becomes the standard way to search the web.
