New Delhi: Google has officially rolled out its experimental AI Mode in Search to users in India, marking the first international launch of the feature outside the United States.
Initially introduced in March 2025 for a limited user base in the US, AI Mode is currently part of Search Labs, Google’s testing platform for next-generation search innovations.
The feature brings a significant shift in how search results are presented and interacted with, offering AI-generated summaries, deeper context, and smarter responses to complex queries.
While still in the experimental stage, the India launch indicates Google’s growing focus on AI-powered search experiences for global audiences.
That question in your head with too many parts? We got you. 🤝
AI Mode in Search is now live in India in Labs (English only), our most powerful AI Search, built for your most complex questions.
To know more: https://t.co/jKP36Ykv7N. pic.twitter.com/6gSVpdNPET
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) June 24, 2025
Unlike traditional search, AI Mode is powered by Gemini 2.5, a custom large language model (LLM) developed by Google. The model is designed to understand long and complex queries, deliver contextual results instantly, and suggest follow-up questions to refine or deepen the user’s inquiry.
It combines data from Google’s knowledge graph, live web content, and shopping insights to generate accurate and helpful responses.
Though the real-time voice interaction feature, known as Search Live, is not yet part of this version, users can still input queries via text, voice, or images and receive AI-curated answers with links to verified sources.
AI Mode leverages a technique known as Query Fan-out, which breaks down a user’s original search into multiple related sub-queries. These sub-queries are processed simultaneously, providing a broader and more relevant set of answers. The AI then synthesizes the results to produce a single, comprehensive response tailored to the user’s intent.
This technique allows AI Mode to explore a wider range of online information quickly, ensuring users receive accurate, contextual, and multi-dimensional answers that traditional keyword-based searches might miss.
In a notable expansion, Google has also confirmed that AI Mode will be integrated with Google Lens for Indian users. This enhancement allows users to scan real-world objects or images and ask questions about them, bridging the gap between visual search and AI-powered reasoning.
Whether it’s identifying a landmark, analyzing a menu, or translating foreign text, users can ask follow-up questions based on the scanned image.
How to Activate AI Mode in Google Search
To enable AI Mode, users must access Google Search Labs via Google Chrome. Here’s how:
- Open Google Chrome on your desktop or mobile device.
- Click the ‘Flask’ icon in the top-right corner next to the Google apps grid.
- In the Search Labs interface, click the “Turn on” button on the AI Mode welcome page.
Once activated, users will see the AI Mode appear below the search box, typically in the far-left corner, before the ‘All’ and ‘News’ tabs.
