Google is rolling out one of the biggest changes to Search in more than two decades, placing AI Mode, conversational answers and task-focused agents closer to the center of the experience. Traditional results will remain, but the way users interact with Google is clearly changing.

Key takeaways

• Google is redesigning Search around AI mode, follow-up questions and multimodal inputs.
• The Search box is getting its biggest upgrade in more than 25 years, the company says.
• New Search agents will monitor information, help with bookings and generate custom tools.
• Classic web links remain, but Google is moving more of the search experience into AI-generated answers.

Google Search is changing in public

Google Search is not broken, but it’s being rebuilt in plain sight. At I/O 2026, Google announced a broad set of AI updates that push Search further away from the familiar model of typing a few keywords and scanning a page of blue links.

The company says it’s bringing Gemini 3.5 Flash to AI Mode globally and introducing what it calls the biggest upgrade to the Search box in more than 25 years. The new box is designed for longer questions, follow-ups and inputs beyond text, including images, files, videos and Chrome tabs, where supported. Google says users will still receive a range of results, but the entry point into Search is becoming much more conversational.

AI Mode moves closer to the core

AI Mode is the clearest sign of where Google wants to take Search. Rather than simply returning a list of pages, AI Mode lets users ask broader questions, continue with follow-ups and receive synthesized answers with supporting links. Google also says users can now move from an AI Overview into AI Mode while keeping the context of the original query.

This major shift, pushing users toward conversing with Google’s AI agent, could dramatically impact the search habit itself. A user who once clicked through several websites may now stay inside Google’s interface for longer, asking the system to narrow, compare or explain results. For ordinary users, that could make Search feel more like an assistant. For publishers and SEO teams, however, it could raise a more uncomfortable question: how much of the web journey will still happens outside Google?

Search agents bring another layer

Google is also preparing Search agents, starting with information agents that can monitor topics in the background and send updates when something relevant changes. The company says these will launch first for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers later this summer.

Other agentic tools are aimed at booking, shopping, local services and custom interfaces. Google says Search will be able to check pricing and availability for some tasks, call certain businesses in select US categories, and generate dashboards, trackers or mini apps for recurring needs. Some of these features will be offered for free, while others will arrive first for premium or US users.

A search engine with fewer edges

The shift is far from subtle. As Google presents AI Search as a way to ask better questions and complete more tasks, the practical effect is that Search will grow into something less of a directory and more of an operating layer between users and the open web.

While that doesn’t mean classic search results are wiped out, it does imply that the old Google Search experience is no longer the default future Google is building toward. The company is making its AI-first model intention clearer with each update.

Google AI Search already has a “disregard” problem

For all the talk of agents, multimodal prompts and Search doing more of the work for users, some rough edges are already showing up in basic searches. Even simple dictionary-style queries can behave oddly when AI-generated answers interpret ordinary words less like search terms and more like instructions.

Google’s AI overviews could stumble on simple dictionary-style searches for words such as “disregard,” “ignore” and “dismiss,” interpreting them like instructions to the AI rather than terms users wanted defined.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is something wrong with Google Search today?

Probably not. Google is actively changing Search, so some users may see more AI Overviews, AI Mode prompts or a different search interface. Availability can vary depending on country, language, account type and device.

Is AI changing Google Searches?

Yes. AI is changing both how users ask questions and how Google answers them. Search is becoming more conversational, more personalized and more task-focused, with AI summaries, follow-up questions, multimodal inputs and agents.

How do I access Google’s new AI search?

Look for AI Mode in Google Search or the Google app. Google also says users can opt into experimental AI Mode features through Search Labs where available. Search Labs experiments are not available everywhere and may depend on account eligibility, language and local rollout rules.