Google continues to innovate for its Android users, and its latest experiment could significantly change how people use Search. The tech giant is currently testing a New AI Mode Button—embedded directly within the familiar Search Bar. This experimental addition marks a significant shift in how users might engage with search in the near future, as it introduces deeper integration of AI capabilities into the core interface.
Early reports and test visuals suggest that the new AI Mode button could replace the traditional voice search and Google Lens icons, presenting a more intelligent and seamless approach to accessing information. By incorporating the powerful capabilities of Google’s Gemini AI model, the button is designed to support a multimodal experience. Users may soon be able to initiate searches using not just text or voice, but also through images, making the interaction more dynamic and context-aware.
What Is the New AI Mode Button?
As part of a redesigned Search interface, Google is introducing a prominent AI Mode button, which is expected to replace the current voice search and Google Lens icons. Once active, this button will allow users to perform AI-driven searches through text, voice, or images, offering a multimodal interaction system that goes beyond traditional keyword queries.

This new feature enhances search by:
- Allowing users to type, speak, or upload images to search.
- Using Gemini AI to provide better reasoning and context-based answers.
- Offering deeper, more intuitive responses by combining visual and textual inputs.
Early Interface Changes
The redesigned layout being tested includes:
- The removal of the colorful quick tool carousel from the Search interface.
- A cleaner, more focused UI centered around the AI Mode experience.
- The ability to snap new photos or upload existing images from the gallery for visual searches — helping the AI to interpret and respond more accurately.
Where Is It Available?
Currently, this AI Mode feature is being tested through Search Labs, and is limited to select Android users in the United States. If successful, it’s expected that Google will roll it out more broadly in the coming months. Read More