Google Tests AI-Only Search Engine for Premium Users
Google has launched an experimental AI-only version of its search engine, replacing traditional blue links with AI-generated summaries.
The feature, called AI Mode, is available to Google One AI Premium subscribers. Users can access it by selecting the AI Mode tab on the search results page, alongside existing options like Images and Maps.
"We've heard from power users that they want AI responses for even more of their searches," said Robby Stein, Google's vice president of product, in a blog post.
Google One AI Premium costs USD 19.99 per month and offers additional cloud storage and exclusive AI features.
Google already provides AI Overviews, which summarise search results above traditional hyperlinks, in more than 100 countries. The company began incorporating advertisements into AI Overviews last May.
AI Mode offers a more detailed AI-generated summary with hyperlinks to cited webpages. The standard 10 blue links have been replaced by a search bar for follow-up questions.
Google said AI Mode is powered by a customised version of its Gemini 2.0 model, designed to handle complex queries with improved reasoning capabilities.
Alphabet, Google's parent company, generated USD 350 billion in revenue in 2024, primarily from search-related advertising. However, it faces increasing competition from AI-powered search alternatives, including Microsoft-backed OpenAI, which introduced search functions to ChatGPT last October.
Google has prioritised AI integration into search, with investment chief Ruth Porat calling it the company's biggest bet at the Reuters NEXT conference in December.
In February, education technology company Chegg sued Google, alleging that AI-generated previews reduced demand for original content and harmed publishers' ability to compete.
Google launched an AI-only search feature for Google One AI Premium users
AI Mode replaces traditional blue links with AI-generated summaries
The feature is powered by Google's Gemini 2.0 model for complex queries
Source: REUTERS