Google AI mode arrives in India: What it means for search users
Google has officially rolled out its AI mode in India, introducing a more conversational, intuitive way for users to search the web. The AI mode—powered by Google’s Gemini 2.5 model—is currently available through Search Labs as an experimental feature. It allows users to ask complex, multi-part questions and receive summarized, conversational responses. This move comes after months of testing with U.S. users and premium subscribers, and reflects Google’s strategy to modernize its core search experience amid rising competition from AI-native tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity. With over 870 million internet users, India is a critical test bed for Google to refine how its AI search features perform in multilingual and mobile-heavy environments.
Once Indian users opt into the new AI mode, they can begin using it in English. Google has yet to confirm when support for Indian languages will arrive, but given the country’s linguistic diversity, this is likely a priority. The tool excels at parsing nuanced, layered queries—like asking for indoor play activities for young children on a hot day. Users can also ask follow-up questions to continue refining their results, mimicking the natural back-and-forth of a human conversation. This Q&A-style interaction aims to reduce the need to click through multiple links by providing relevant, synthesized answers instantly within the search interface.
How Google’s AI mode in India works and what’s included
Google AI mode isn’t just about chat—it’s a fully interactive layer added on top of traditional search. Indian users will benefit from voice and image search features, which are widely used in the region due to the high prevalence of mobile internet access. Voice input, in particular, is a popular way for many Indians to search online, and Google has built its AI mode to support this behavior from the start. The AI model underpinning the experience, Gemini 2.5, is optimized for these longer, more complex queries, with Google reporting that early testers tend to use 2–3x longer search prompts than in traditional search.
The AI mode also integrates shopping features and ads, creating new monetization and discovery opportunities. For example, if a user searches for a product recommendation, AI mode may summarize top-rated products and insert shopping links directly in the results. This aligns with Google’s goal to keep users engaged within its ecosystem, even as AI chatbots threaten to draw traffic away. Google is positioning AI mode as both an enhancement and a safeguard—modernizing search while preserving its ad-driven revenue model.
Why AI mode matters in Google’s broader AI strategy
Launching AI mode in India is a strategic move for Google, as it faces increasing pressure from rapidly growing AI-first tools. ChatGPT and Perplexity have gained traction by offering users fast, conversational answers without requiring traditional keyword-based queries. Google’s dominance in search is still intact, but user behavior is evolving—people want answers, not just links. AI mode is Google's answer to this shift, providing a streamlined, chat-like interface that brings together text, voice, images, and even shopping.
More broadly, AI mode is a piece of Google’s larger AI overhaul. The company has already rolled out AI Overviews, a feature that auto-generates summaries at the top of search results for quick information retrieval. As of April, over 1.5 billion users were reportedly using AI Overviews globally. With AI mode, Google is now doubling down on interactive, AI-assisted search and aiming to keep users inside its platform rather than losing them to external AI tools. By offering these new capabilities in India, Google gains critical feedback from a linguistically diverse, mobile-first user base that will help shape future updates.
How India benefits—and what comes next for Google AI mode
India's inclusion in the AI mode rollout demonstrates Google's long-standing investment in the region—not just as a massive market, but also as a proving ground for scalable, globally applicable features. The company has tailored the experience for Indian users, prioritizing features like voice and image search from the beginning. As AI mode evolves, Google will likely expand language support to reach more of India’s multilingual population, which would dramatically increase engagement. For now, English remains the only supported language, but demand for Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and other local language integration is expected.
Looking ahead, Google is likely to use insights from Indian users to refine AI mode before expanding it further. Expect tighter integration with other Google services like Maps, Shopping, and YouTube, all powered by conversational AI. Additionally, given the growing debate around AI’s impact on publishers—highlighted by concerns that features like AI Overviews reduce web traffic—Google may face new pressure to balance AI innovation with supporting the open web. Nevertheless, by launching AI mode in India, Google is taking a critical step in redefining what search will look like in an AI-first world.
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