Google Search gets AI Mode in India
It comes not long after Google removed the feature from behind a paywall.
Google is bringing a new wave of AI-powered search to everyone in India — no Labs sign-up, no subscription, and no waitlists. The company has officially rolled out AI Mode across Google Search and the Google app, letting users tap into a more advanced, conversational search experience for free.
While AI Mode first launched in the U.S. as a premium feature earlier this year, only available to paying Gemini Advanced subscribers, this update marks its first full international release, and India is getting it ahead of the rest.
It’s a big moment for Google Search, and it says a lot about how the company sees the future of looking things up online.
The feature was first tested under Search Labs last year, and now it's going mainstream. At its core, AI Mode is powered by Gemini 2.5 and built for questions that go beyond the usual “what is” or “how to.” Whether you’re planning a trip, comparing smartphones, or trying to fix a leaky pipe, you can ask long, complex questions, two to three times longer than normal, and get step-by-step, well-organized answers. And it’s not just typing: AI Mode works with voice and images too, thanks to its integration with Google Lens. Snap a photo, describe what you’re looking for, and get tailored results with citations and related links.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
What makes AI Mode feel different from standard search is its ability to break down your query into multiple subtopics behind the scenes, what Google calls a “query fan-out.” It then searches across those layers, pulling in real-time data from sources like the Knowledge Graph and shopping databases to give you answers that are both detailed and current.
India seems like a natural first stop for this kind of rollout. It’s one of the world’s largest internet markets, ranked second largest by Statista, with a fast-growing base of tech-savvy users who are already heavy on visual and voice search. In fact, Google says more people use Google Lens in India than anywhere else. So launching here first isn’t just a kind gesture, it’s a smart strategy.
With over 1.5 billion monthly users already seeing AI Overviews globally, this latest move feels like a clear next step. While Microsoft has Copilot embedded in Bing and Edge, Google’s edge is its dominance in search, and AI Mode could help it stay there by making search more intuitive, multimodal, and deeply helpful.
Louis Eriakha
