Google’s AI Mode Goes Live in India: A Smarter Way to Search

July 9, 2025 Techelius Newsroom 0 Comments

Google has officially rolled out its highly anticipated “AI Mode” for Search to all users across India, marking a significant evolution in how Indians interact with online information. This groundbreaking feature, which moves beyond traditional keyword-based searches, promises to deliver AI-powered answers to complex and nuanced queries, making information discovery more effortless and intuitive than ever before.

Previously available in an experimental “Labs” phase, AI Mode is now integrated directly into the Google Search interface and the Google app, accessible in English to start. This widespread rollout positions India as one of the first international markets outside the US to receive this advanced capability, underscoring the country’s pivotal role in Google’s global AI strategy and the enthusiastic adoption of multimodal search by Indian users.

What is Google’s AI Mode and How Does It Work?

At its core, Google’s AI Mode is powered by a custom version of Google’s cutting-edge Gemini 2.5 large language model. Unlike a standard search that provides a list of links, AI Mode aims to directly answer your questions, even the most intricate ones, by synthesizing information from across the web.

Here’s how this intelligent new feature functions:

Complex Query Handling: AI Mode excels at understanding multi-part, layered questions that would typically require multiple searches and extensive cross-referencing in the traditional search model. For example, instead of searching “best indoor activities for kids” and then “activities for 4 and 7 year olds” and “activities without much space,” you can now ask AI Mode a comprehensive query like: “My kids are 4 and 7 and have lots of energy. Suggest creative ways to get them active and moving indoors, especially on hot days, without needing a lot of space or expensive toys.”
“Query Fan-Out” Technique: Behind the scenes, AI Mode employs a sophisticated “query fan-out” technique. This means it intelligently breaks down your complex question into subtopics and simultaneously runs a multitude of related searches on your behalf. It then processes these multiple queries, delving deeper into the web to find diverse and hyper-relevant content.
Comprehensive, Synthesized Answers: The result is a well-structured, comprehensive AI-generated response that summarizes key information, often with helpful links to the original web sources for further exploration. This eliminates the need for users to manually sift through numerous links to piece together an answer.
Multimodal Input: Recognizing India’s strong preference for voice and visual search, AI Mode is designed to be truly multimodal. Users can input their queries not just by typing, but also by speaking using the microphone icon or by snapping and uploading images via Google Lens. Imagine taking a photo of an unfamiliar plant and asking, “What is this plant and how do I take care of it?” AI Mode can identify the plant and provide detailed care instructions, including ideal placement and watering tips.
Follow-Up Questions and Contextual Understanding: The conversational nature of AI Mode allows for seamless follow-up questions. The AI retains context from previous interactions, enabling a more natural and efficient back-and-forth dialogue to deepen understanding on a topic.

Impact on Indian Users and the Future of Search

The launch of AI Mode in India holds significant implications for the country’s vast digital landscape:

Enhanced Accessibility and Empowerment: For millions of Indian users, especially those who may find traditional typed searches challenging or prefer more natural forms of interaction, AI Mode lowers the barrier to accessing information. The ability to speak or visually input queries makes the internet more inclusive.
Deeper Exploration and Learning: Early feedback from the Labs phase indicates that Indian users are embracing AI Mode for longer, more exploratory searches. This suggests a shift from quick fact-finding to a more in-depth learning and discovery process, particularly for educational needs, product comparisons, and understanding complex “how-to” guides.
New Opportunities for Content Discovery: While AI Mode provides direct answers, it maintains links to original web sources. This means that while users get immediate gratification, there are still ample opportunities for content creators and businesses to be discovered as users delve deeper into topics.
Focus on Responsible AI: Google emphasizes that AI Mode is rooted in its core search quality and safety systems, refined over more than two decades. The company is committed to ensuring that AI-powered responses are factual, reliable, and attribute sources clearly. In instances where the AI lacks high confidence in a response, it will intelligently revert to displaying traditional web search results.

As India continues its rapid digital transformation, Google’s AI Mode represents a significant leap forward in making information more accessible, intuitive, and powerful. It’s a clear signal that the future of search is conversational, multimodal, and deeply integrated with advanced artificial intelligence, promising an even more effortless way for users to explore and understand the world around them. While currently available in English, the expansion to other Indian languages is eagerly anticipated, further broadening the reach and impact of this transformative technology.