Overview: What Google Says About AI Mode in India
Google’s official blog introduces AI Mode in India as part of its ongoing expansion of generative AI in Search. AI Mode, available through Search Labs, allows users to interact with Search using voice, images, and longer, conversational queries—thanks to the capabilities of Gemini 2.5. The AI-generated responses now appear before traditional links and include source attributions. Google highlights that more people use Google Lens in India than anywhere else globally and frames the launch as a response to the country’s high volume of mobile-first and visual search behavior. This launch is part of a broader evolution to make Search more helpful through generative summaries, follow-up suggestions, and interactive query refinement.
Why India?
India has become a key early market for Google’s generative search rollout. With over 900 million internet users as of 2023 (Statista), it presents:
- A mobile-first, high-volume search population
- Leading global usage of Google Lens and voice-based inputs
- A diverse, multilingual user base (e.g., English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali)
“We know voice and visual search are extremely popular in India. More people use Google Lens here every month than in any other country worldwide.” – Google
What Exactly Is AI Mode?
AI Mode is Google’s experimental generative search experience, now available in India through Search Labs on mobile and desktop. Users can opt in to try a smarter, more natural search interface powered by Gemini 2.5—Google’s most advanced large language model to date.
Confirmed features include:
- Conversational follow-ups to refine without restarting a query
- Voice input and Google Lens integration
- Multimodal understanding – combining text, voice, and images
- Support for longer, complex, or multistep queries
The system draws on Google’s Knowledge Graph, live web content, shopping databases, and real-time information to generate responses.
Conversational and Multistep Search
AI Mode shifts from the traditional “10 blue links” model by enabling:
- Multi-part questions and follow-ups in natural language
- Step-by-step breakdowns of complex queries
- Context-aware refinements over multiple turns
Google confirms AI Mode uses its proprietary query fan-out technique, allowing it to “fan out” a complex question into multiple sub-questions answered in parallel.
Search Is Now a Conversation
With AI Mode, Google Search becomes a dialogue.
Users can:
- Ask follow-up questions without rephrasing
- Explore layered comparisons (e.g., “Compare iPhone 15 and Galaxy S24 camera quality”)
- Use voice, images, and text interchangeably
- This behavior is now live via Search Labs, with support for mobile and desktop.
Market Signals and Competitive Context
- Google has reported a 10% increase in usage for generative AI results in countries like the U.S. and India.
- The India rollout precedes most other markets—positioning it as a real-world proving ground.
- AI-native competitors like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and You.com are redefining what users expect from search engines.
Final Word: India’s Role in AI Search Evolution
Google’s AI Mode launch in India signals a paradigm shift in how search works—moving toward multimodal, generative, conversational experiences.
With Gemini 2.5 at its core, India’s rollout reflects not just market size, but also diversity in search behavior. The classic SEO playbook must evolve to account for how AI interprets, ranks, and synthesizes data across voice, visuals, and natural language.