Google has introduced its experimental AI mode to users in India, allowing people to ask complex, question-based searches in English. This new feature, accessible through Search Labs, is part of Google’s broader effort to offer a more conversational search experience. Once users opt in, they can pose detailed queries like how to keep young children active indoors on hot days without expensive toys. The tool also supports follow-up questions, making it easier for users to refine results more naturally and flexibly.
The AI mode is powered by a customised version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 model and has already seen use in the United States, where it was first tested with premium subscribers before expanding to a wider audience. Since then, Google has added voice and image search capabilities, along with shopping features and adverts. In India, Google has ensured that voice and image search are supported from the start, recognising that many users in the country rely on voice as their primary way of using search tools.
India, with over 870 million internet users, offers Google a unique environment to study how diverse and multilingual communities interact with AI. While English is currently the only supported language, Google has not confirmed when local languages will be included. Early testers of the AI mode have been observed submitting much longer questions than usual, suggesting that users are engaging more deeply with the tool than they might with standard search.
This launch comes at a time when more people are experimenting with chat-based AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, often turning to these alternatives for their ease of conversation and direct answers. Google’s AI mode seems aimed at drawing those users back into its ecosystem by offering similar interaction styles within the familiar Search interface. Alongside this, Google is continuing to expand its AI overviews, which summarise search results, a feature it says is now used by more than 1.5 billion people globally.
However, this shift to AI-generated summaries and responses has not come without challenges. Publishers have raised concerns about reduced web traffic, as users may find answers directly in search without needing to click through to sources. Despite this, Google appears committed to refining its AI tools and rolling them out more widely, using markets like India to shape how future global products will function.
