Google introduces AI Mode - goodbye search engine
Google threw out a few surprises at I/O 2025. Among them was the AI mode. This mode, based on the advanced Gemini 2.0 model, fundamentally changes the way we search for and process information.
Google has thrown out a few surprises at I/O 2025 (read more here: https://io.google/2025/). Including the AI mode. This mode, based on the advanced Gemini 2.0 model, fundamentally changes the way we search for and process information.
What is AI mode?
AI mode is more than just an extension of the previous search function. It makes it possible to ask complex and multi-part questions in a single step and answers them with a combination of high-quality web content, current data sources and the Google Knowledge Graph. Using the "query fan-out" technique, several related search queries are carried out simultaneously and the results are combined into a comprehensive answer. You can think of it as a hybrid of standard chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google Search, but one that focuses more on natural language and user interaction than a normal search engine
Despite the impressive progress, AI mode also brings challenges. AI cannot always fully mimic the way a human thinks, which can lead to unintentional bias or an artificial persona. Google is aware of this problem and is continuously collecting user feedback in order to further improve the technology. This also raises the question of whether the move away from normal search engines is the right way to go.
I myself am somewhat critical of this. An AI should be more than sufficient for everyday search queries. However, normal search engines still have a right to exist. They are the gateway to the millions of websites on the web that we know and love. A search engine has the task of leading me to these sites. The interaction with the page found is then up to me. If this content is transferred to the response of an AI, companies could lose valuable traffic or leads. It is not for nothing that an entire industry has emerged from SEO. It remains exciting to see how the web landscape will change as a result of such technologies.
Conclusion
The AI mode marks a significant milestone in the development of search engines. Not only does it offer an improved user experience, but it could also fundamentally change the way we search for and use information. At a time when accurate and well-founded information is crucial, Google is setting a new standard with AI Mode. However, there is also the criticism of what actually happens to the sources of the content that an AI gives me.
How will AI Mode change your search habits? What new possibilities do you see for the future of search technology? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Sources:
Robby Stein
