Photo / Video Credit: Google Blog
Google has officially rolled out its advanced AI Mode in India, making it the first country outside the United States to experience the tech giant’s next-generation, AI-enhanced search capabilities. Launched as part of Google Labs on June 24, 2025, the new AI Mode marks a significant evolution in how users interact with Google Search — promising deeper, more intuitive, and multimodal responses to complex queries.
What is AI Mode?
AI Mode is a cutting-edge feature that leverages Google’s Gemini 2.5 large language model to power a smarter, more conversational search experience. Unlike traditional search, which delivers a list of web links, AI Mode synthesizes complex information into meaningful summaries and step-by-step guides. It supports a wide range of input types, including:
- Textual prompts (even long-form or multi-part questions)
- Voice commands
- Image uploads via Google Lens
This multimodal flexibility allows users to ask questions like, “What kind of plant is this, and how do I take care of it?” by simply uploading an image. The system identifies the plant, explains how to care for it, and even offers follow-up prompts for additional guidance.
Why India Got It First
Google’s decision to launch AI Mode first in India (outside the U.S.) is a strategic one. India has one of the world’s largest and most active online populations, with over 870 million internet users. More importantly, users in India show a high propensity for using voice and visual search tools — higher than in many other regions.
Additionally, India’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape makes it an ideal testing ground for an AI system that aims to be truly global and inclusive. This expansion also aligns with Google’s broader investments in India, including initiatives in AI safety, research, and infrastructure.
What AI Mode Offers
AI Mode builds upon the widely-used AI Overviews, which now serve over 1.5 billion users each month. But with AI Mode, users can go further — interacting with the system as they would in a natural conversation.
Some key features include:
- Multimodal Search: Combine text, voice, and image for more dynamic queries.
- Conversational Flow: Users can ask follow-up questions based on previous responses.
- Complex Query Handling: AI Mode can break down and analyze layered questions using a method called “query fan-out.”
- Real-time Information Sourcing: Pulls answers from updated data sets like Google’s Knowledge Graph, shopping catalogs, and live web content.
This makes the experience highly contextual and situational. Whether you’re researching a travel itinerary, solving a science problem, or shopping for a laptop, AI Mode adapts accordingly.
The Technology Behind It
AI Mode is powered by Gemini 2.5, one of Google’s most sophisticated AI models. The system uses advanced reasoning capabilities and intelligent ranking to source and organize content. It analyzes the intent of a question and may split it into multiple parts to fetch the most accurate results.
Unlike generic AI assistants, this system is tightly integrated with Google’s search infrastructure, offering a blend of AI-generated insights and trustworthy web results. When the AI lacks confidence in an answer, it will default to traditional web search to ensure reliability.
Still in Experimental Phase
Currently, AI Mode is available as an experimental feature through Google Search Labs and supports only English input. Users in India can opt in to explore its features, though local language support is expected in the future.
Google emphasized that the tool is still in development, and user feedback will play a crucial role in refining the experience. While the current rollout is limited, the company has hinted at a wider global release based on the success and learning from the Indian market.
Part of a Broader AI Strategy
The launch of AI Mode in India is not an isolated move. It comes alongside other major AI developments by Google in the country, such as the inauguration of its first Asia-Pacific Google Safety Engineering Centre in Hyderabad. This facility is focused on AI-related cybersecurity and responsible tech development.
These steps show Google’s long-term commitment to making India a central hub for AI innovation — not just as a user base, but also as a collaborator in AI research, safety, and development.
