Google Search Launches New AI Mode in the UK: What You Need To Know

Google Search has undergone countless updates over the years. On 28th July, 2025, it announced it is rolling out the new AI Mode in the UK. Calling it their “most powerful AI search experience,” it is designed to handle complex, nuanced, and open-ended questions too difficult to be answered in traditional search. 

It also offers answers in conversational style, containing far fewer links to other pages, with more advanced reasoning and multimodality. Whether you’re planning a trip, learning something new, or exploring a deep question, artificial intelligence meets your curiosity with thoughtful answers. 

Starting to roll out in the UK, you’ll see it appear as a tab on your Search results page, and in the Google app for Android and iOS. Here’s what you need to know about Google’s AI Mode, what sets it apart, how to access it, and how it works.

What Is AI Mode?

AI Mode is an advanced AI-powered experience available as a tab on Google Search and within the Google app for Android and iOS. 

According to the Daily Mail, the number of people who click its links from Google search results has fallen by around 50% on both desktop and mobile traffic since Google introduced its AI Overview feature. Built on a modified version of the Gemini 2.5 model, it goes beyond keyword matching to understand intent, context, and complexity in natural language queries. 

Instead of just showing a list of links, AI Mode gives clear answers, suggests follow-up questions, and shares useful links to learn more. 

Why AI Mode Matters: From Simple To Complex Questions

Traditional search engines excel at straightforward queries: dates, definitions, and addresses. 

But when questions become:

• Multi-layered,
• Subjective,
• Comparative, or
• Open-ended,

The classic search model begins to strain.

For example, you can use AI mode to:

• Plan a trip: “Things to do in Edinburgh this weekend with friends who are foodies and love music.”
• Discover what’s new in science: “How do migrating birds navigate across continents?”
• Make a final decision: “Compare budget-friendly hybrid cars for a small family in the UK.”

Users are already asking questions 2–3× longer than traditional searches, which points to a growing demand for depth and context.

How Does AI Mode Work?

AI Mode employs a query fan-out technique:

• Your long, complex question is broken down into sub-questions.
• Multiple simultaneous queries are launched.
• Results are synthesised using AI to provide a contextual response.

Google then taps deeper into its search index and surfaces often more relevant and lesser-known content that matches your intent and not just your keywords.

How to Access AI Mode

If you’re in the UK:

• On desktop: Look for the “AI Mode” tab on your Google Search results page.
• On mobile: Open the Google app and look for the new AI interface.

Rollout has already begun, and it may gradually appear across devices and user accounts.

What Sets AI Mode Apart?

What sets AI Mode apart is its multimodal input capabilities. 

You’re no longer limited to typing:

• Text: Ask traditionally using the search bar.
• Voice: Tap the mic and speak like you would to a friend.
• Images: Snap a photo or upload an image, then ask questions.

Whether you’re identifying a flower, translating a road sign, or asking about a product you’re holding in your hand, AI Mode adapts to your preferred mode of interaction.

AI That Works With the Web, Not Against It

Google emphasises that AI Mode aims to highlight valuable content from across the web.

• Prominent links accompany each response.
• Follow-up suggestions help guide exploration.
• Greater diversity of websites is being surfaced, as seen in early user behaviour.

Google claims that clicks originating from AI Overviews are higher quality. Users spend more time and engage more meaningfully with the content.

How Can Advertisers Use AI Mode Effectively?

• Be specific: The more detail you provide, the better the response.
• Try voice and image inputs: Great for quick questions or real-world context.
• Use follow-up questions: Dig deeper with context-aware threading.
• Look at the links: AI Mode is a jumping-off point, not a dead-end.

Quality, Accuracy, and Continuous Learning

AI Mode is rooted in Google’s core ranking systems and includes novel methods to improve factuality and trustworthiness. 

But the system isn’t perfect:

• If the AI lacks confidence in its response, it will defer to traditional search results.
• Google is committed to ongoing feedback loops and iterative improvements.

AI Mode: The Future of Asking Questions

With AI Mode, it’ s not just about getting answers but also about asking smarter questions. The ability to think more naturally, explore more deeply, and interact more flexibly opens up new possibilities for learning, discovery, and decision-making.

As AI becomes part of everyday tools, Google’s approach with AI Mode is to let powerful language models assist and not replace curiosity or the open web ecosystem.

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