For years, a Google search meant one thing: a long page of blue links. That is, until AI Overviews changed the game. Now, Google is shaking up Search again. At Google I/O, the company unveiled what it is calling "the biggest upgrade to our Search box in 25 years," and it's meant to make the experience more intuitive for users by more natively infusing AI. For instance, the Search box now expands to give users more space to describe what they want and provides AI-powered suggestions.
Users can now also enter more into the Search box, including text, images, files, videos, or Chrome tabs. The new AI Search box is rolling out to users today in all countries and languages where AI Mode is available, Google said in its release. The handoff between Search and AI Mode was also improved, with it now being easier to ask a follow up in the AI overview and go straight to AI Mode. That's also live today across desktop, mobile, and online.
The rest of Search updates focused on the topic of the year: agents. The announcements include:
Information agents: These agents operate in the background and reason across information, including the web, blogs, news sites, and social posts, to find you the information you need. It can send you updates as it finds more information, for example, surfacing more apartments that match your criteria. It is rolling out to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers this summer.Agentic booking capabilities: Now expanding in Search to new tasks such as local experiences and services.** Agentic coding in Search**: Google is integrating Antigravity and Gemini 3.5 Flash’s coding capabilities right into Search to build ideal responses for your queries, including visual tools and simulations such as tables or graphs. It will be available this summer.
Lastly, Personal Intelligence in AI Mode is expanding to more people in nearly 200 countries and territories across 98 languages. You can connect apps like Gmail and Google Photos, and soon Google Calendar, for more tailored responses. Google reminds users that they are always in control of their data and can choose whether or not they want to connect the apps.
Our Deeper View #
Google is uniquely positioned to dominate the AI race, largely due to the sheer scale of users who already rely on its products daily, Search is, of course, the prime example. With billions of queries processed every day, Google has an unparalleled pipeline for exposing users to its AI products. The changes to Search make strategic sense on two fronts: it dramatically expands AI's reach, and it enhances a product that people already trust and depend on. The challenge, however, is that AI-generated results are inherently prone to hallucinations, a fundamental limitation of how these systems work. Embedding AI into a product as established and trusted as Google Search risks blurring the line between authoritative information and AI-generated results that can be unreliable.