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Google’s Search AI Mode Launches to General Public

By Brett Tabke on March 24, 2025

The great line from the Eagles Hotel California resonates today: “You can checkout in anytime you like, but you can never leave“, because it seems like Google is building Hotel Google where you can checkin and never leave as it is next to impossible to find a way off the Serps short of the ‘home, back, or exit browser” buttons in some modes.

Google’s “Search AI Mode” is now open for all to use. Previously only open to paid subscribers of Gemini. It features a ChatGPT like interface with occasional – but mostly Google property – search results.

Google has been seen as playing catchup in AI for several years. Last years “AI Overviews” feature was fraught with mistakes at the outset and has been panned by users as disruptive and unhelpful. Even Googles year over year searches have went up by some reports as much as 20% as users are forced – as we believe – to refine searches to find the information Google used to give in the first iteration.  While many have been begging for ways to turn off AI Overviews, Googles new AI mode puts it back on somewhat on par with ChatGPT (or SearchGPT if you will) offerings.

How to get it:

  • Search Google , and then click on the “AI Mode” tab below the Search box.
  • Go directly to the AI Mode tab on Google Search at: Google.com/aimode.
  • In the Google app, tap the AI Mode icon below the Search bar on the home screen.

Some will have to enable search history and be part of Google Labs :

Example usage, I have a lightbulb out in a 20ft ceiling arch way. So I ask Google and got a standard AI Slop answer.

Clicking on AI Mode tab in top left, gave me this page:

Those little “link” icons next to the response are NOT links to websites. They simply change the panel on the right that does give you the links to sources. Additionally, if you do finally find an off of Google link, it opens a new window.

Most of those little link icons lead directly to Google properties. They aren’t even pretending to care about the open web. It is a pretty good bet that that right side panel will magically turn into Ads in short order. We go with the classic Matt Cutts, “How to Pour Milk” example:

 

 

sigh. pass the prozac (-said every marketer today).

InterWebs Reaction

Published in Gemini and Google