Google is replacing its 25-year-old keyword search box with a dynamic, AI-powered interface that supports multimodal inputs and conversational queries.
Key facts
- •The search box now supports multimodal inputs including images, PDFs, videos, and open Chrome tabs.
- •AI Mode has reached over one billion monthly users in its first year, while AI Overviews reach 2.5 billion monthly users.
- •Gemini 3.5 Flash is the underlying model for the new search experience, offering lower latency and higher output speeds.
- •Generative UI features, which create real-time interactive visuals, will be available to all users for free this summer.
- •Information agents capable of monitoring web data will launch for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers this summer.
Google announced a major redesign of its search interface at its annual I/O conference, moving away from a simple keyword input to a conversational, AI-driven model. The new search box allows users to input text, images, PDFs, videos, and Chrome tabs, while merging AI Overviews and AI Mode into a single, seamless experience. The update is rolling out immediately to all countries and languages where AI Mode is available.
Shift to Conversational Search
The redesigned search box is built to handle complex, granular queries rather than short keyword strings. It includes an AI-powered suggestion system designed to help users formulate detailed questions. By unifying AI Overviews and AI Mode, Google allows users to receive AI-generated summaries and then immediately engage in back-and-forth follow-up conversations without navigating to a separate interface.
Underlying Technology and New Features
The new experience is powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash, a model Google claims outperforms its predecessor, Gemini 3.1 Pro, while operating at higher speeds. The update also introduces 'generative UI,' which allows search to create interactive widgets and visualizations in real time. Additionally, Google is launching 'information agents' that can monitor the web for specific conditions and notify users, with these features initially available to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Impact on Ecosystem and Revenue
The shift toward conversational search poses challenges for publishers, advertisers, and SEO professionals who previously relied on keyword-based models. As search results become more self-contained through AI-generated summaries and follow-up capabilities, the necessity for users to click through to external websites may decrease. Google maintains that these AI features are additive to search volume, though the redesign changes how ad targeting and content optimization will function.
Timeline
- MondayGoogle held a press briefing to discuss the search box redesign.
- TuesdayGoogle formally retired the traditional search box paradigm and launched the merged AI search experience.
- This summerGenerative UI capabilities and information agents are scheduled to launch.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by VentureBeat AI.
