Google I/O has confirmed expectations that the event would focus heavily on artificial intelligence. The company aims to leverage AI to take on more of the search tasks that users typically perform themselves.
Central to this initiative is the introduction of AI Mode in Google Search, which is being rolled out for users in the United States. This feature provides a chatbot-like experience integrated within the Search interface, allowing Google to aggregate information rather than merely directing users to traditional blue links.
During the keynote, Google demonstrated AI Mode by showcasing a scenario in which a user seeks suggestions for activities in Nashville, appealing to friends interested in food, music, and unique experiences. The AI Mode generated curated lists of restaurants catering to food enthusiasts, venues with relaxing bars and live music, and off-the-beaten-path attractions. Additionally, the tool created a personalized map of recommended locations. For shopping, AI Mode can also generate customized listings.
This new capability effectively takes over the planning process for users. The service performs multiple related searches and synthesizes the results into a single response, saving users the time and effort of conducting individual searches.
The technology driving AI Mode is grounded in what Liz Reid, head of Google’s Search team, described as the “query fanout technique.” She explained that Search can now recognize queries that require advanced reasoning. It utilizes a customized version of Gemini to decompose the question into subtopics and executes numerous simultaneous searches on the user’s behalf.
“Search dives deep, going beyond traditional search methods,” Reid noted. “It accesses datasets like the Knowledge Graph and local insights from our extensive Maps community. It seamlessly compiles a response while verifying its accuracy. Should it find information gaps, it initiates additional searches to fill them. With AI Mode, you receive comprehensive results from just a single search query, and promptly.”
In essence, AI Mode significantly enhances the user’s search experience by automating a lot of the initial querying process. Users will even see how many searches are being conducted on their behalf. This summer, Google plans to introduce a “Deep Search” feature within AI Mode, which will amplify its capabilities by enabling “dozens or even hundreds” of queries simultaneously.
Additionally, Google aims to broaden the scope of AI-driven tasks through Project Mariner, a tool that automates specific online tasks. Currently, it can manage up to ten tasks at once, and a new Teach and Repeat feature allows users to train Project Mariner to perform tasks consistently.
Furthermore, the new Agent Mode in the Gemini app will enable automated task completion powered in part by Project Mariner. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted its potential capability to assist users in finding apartments by checking listings on services like Zillow.
Project Mariner is also set to enhance AI Mode this summer, with Rajan Patel, Vice President of Engineering for Search, demonstrating how AI Mode will assist users in purchasing game tickets through Search, displaying options and purchase buttons directly.
Reid expressed confidence that AI could be “the most powerful engine for discovery the web has ever known.” However, if the potency of Google’s AI tools aligns with their demonstrated capabilities, it could mean a future where the platform does much of the searching for users.
