Google is experimenting with a unified experience that merges its AI Overviews with its AI-powered conversational mode (AI Mode), streamlining how users interact with search results. The move comes as the company battles OpenAI for dominance in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The Shift in User Experience
Currently, Google Search provides AI Overviews – AI-generated summaries at the top of search results – and a separate AI Mode, which lets users chat with Google’s Gemini AI in a manner similar to ChatGPT. To access the chat mode, users had to deliberately switch tabs.
The new test removes this separation. Users who receive an AI Overview will now be able to seamlessly transition into a conversational follow-up within the same interface. This means that if a user starts with a simple query and decides they want to explore the topic further, they can do so without leaving the search results page. The test is initially rolling out to mobile devices globally.
Why This Matters: A Competitive Response
This integration is partly a response to OpenAI’s aggressive push to improve its own chatbot experience. OpenAI recently delayed other product launches to prioritize refining ChatGPT, and Google appears to be accelerating its own AI offerings to keep pace.
Google’s Gemini AI has already reached over 650 million monthly users, boosted by recent improvements like the Nano Banana image model. Combining this with the 2 billion monthly users of AI Overviews could significantly expand Gemini’s reach and adoption.
Google’s Strategy: Seamless Interaction
According to Google VP of Product Robby Stein, the goal is to eliminate friction in the search process. “You shouldn’t have to think about where or how to ask your question,” he said in a post on X. The company envisions a future where users can simply ask any question, regardless of complexity, and receive a comprehensive answer through a combination of AI summaries and conversational follow-ups.
The test is part of Google’s broader vision for Search: to provide a fluid, intuitive experience where users can explore topics without needing to consciously switch between different modes.
The integration of AI Overviews and AI Mode represents a key step toward this goal, making AI-powered search more accessible and engaging for everyday users.
