Google has brought its AI Mode to India, marking a significant shift in how people find information online. Available through Google Labs in English, this experimental feature shows Google’s determination to move beyond traditional search results toward AI-powered conversations.
The tech giant has even used its valuable homepage real estate – the Google Doodle – to promote AI Mode, demonstrating the importance of this initiative to the company’s future strategy.
AI Mode uses a custom version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 model designed to handle complex queries that previously required multiple searches. Users are already asking questions 2-3 times longer than traditional searches, showing rapid adaptation to this new approach.
“AI Mode is our most powerful AI search, with more advanced reasoning and multimodality,” says Hema Budaraju from Google. But beneath this technical language lies a simple yet profound change: instead of giving you links to websites, Google now aims to give you direct answers.
For Indian users specifically, AI Mode offers voice and image search capabilities – particularly valuable in a country with more Google Lens users than anywhere else in the world. A user can snap a photo of a plant, ask how to care for it, and receive detailed instructions without visiting multiple websites.
The system works through what Google calls “query fan-out.” When someone asks a complex question like planning a family trip with eco-friendly options, AI Mode breaks it into smaller searches – transportation, accommodations, activities – then combines these findings into one answer, with links for further reading.
This represents Google’s attempt to keep users within its ecosystem longer. By providing comprehensive answers directly in search results, Google creates a “sticky” experience where users may have less reason to visit external websites.
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This shift raises serious concerns for website owners and content creators. Many industry experts worry that direct answers within Google’s interface will reduce traffic to publishers who rely on visitors for revenue. Content creators now face pressure to adapt their approach from traditional SEO to “Answer Engine Optimization,” ensuring their content becomes the trusted source that AI draws from.
For everyday users, AI Mode promises convenience – getting answers to complex questions without visiting multiple websites. A parent planning activities for energetic children on a hot day can ask one detailed question rather than conducting several searches.
Google claims AI Overviews, a related feature, now reaches over 1.5 billion users monthly and has driven more than a 10% increase in usage in markets like India and the US. AI Mode expands these capabilities with advanced reasoning and multimodal features.
The company insists it remains committed to helping people discover content across the web, claiming AI Mode will create new opportunities for content discovery by allowing more nuanced questions. However, the reality may prove more complicated for website owners who see their traffic decline.
Google acknowledges the technology won’t always provide perfect answers. When confidence in an answer is low, users will see traditional search results instead. This experimental launch allows Google to gather feedback while refining the system before wider implementation.
The ultimate goal appears clear: Google wants to transform from a search engine that points users elsewhere into an answer engine that keeps users engaged with Google’s products. For users, this means more direct answers; for content creators, it presents both challenges and opportunities; and for Google, it represents a strategic move to maintain dominance in how people access information online.
