OpenAI goes to “Code Red” in response to competitive pressure, Google announced that it has started testing a up-to-date feature that combines its functions Artificial Intelligence Reviews with AI mode in the search engine. This means that users who now receive a common, AI-generated snapshot of key information about a given topic or question above search results can dig deeper by asking additional questions in a conversational interface.
Google calls this feature conversation AI fashion. It was made available to users in the US in May this year and to users around the world in August, allowing users to chat with Google Gemini AI in a manner similar to ChatGPT.
However, accessing this experience so far required you to think about what type of questions you were preparing to search. If it was a more established query or one where you could expect a quick response, you’d probably prefer to type in the search box as you normally would.
However, if you want to ask more questions or go deeper into a topic, you’ll need to click the AI Mode tab to start a conversation with the AI instead.
Google now wants to see if it makes sense to distinguish these two experiences. After all, the process of seeking information can often lead to a desire to know more. You may have thought you were starting a uncomplicated query, but suddenly you found yourself diving deeper into the topic.
Google says that with the up-to-date test announced on Monday, users will be able to “seamlessly dive” into AI mode directly from the search results page. While the test is rolling out to users worldwide, it is only available on mobile devices for now.
The rollout comes alongside pressure on Google’s artificial intelligence rival, OpenAI, which is currently delaying other products so they can focus on improving the chat experience. Thanks in part to the release of Gemini’s Nano Banana image model and other Gemini enhancements, Gemini has grown to over 650 million monthly users from November. Combining conversational mode with AI Reviews, which is used by 2 billion monthly users, could give Gemini an advantage in consumer adoption.
Notes Google Search Product Vice President Robby Stein, in the post on X“You shouldn’t have to wonder where and how to ask a question.” Instead, he explained, users will continue to receive an AI overview as a helpful starting point, but will then be able to ask follow-up questions in the form of an AI conversation from the same screen.
“This brings us closer to our vision for a search engine: Just ask whatever comes to mind – no matter how long or complicated – and find exactly what you need,” Stein wrote.