How AI Mode is reinventing Google Search

Announced at the Google I/O 2025 conference and was put back in the spotlight at Google I/O 2026, AI Mode marks a new milestone in the integration of generative AI at the core of Google Search.

Following the widespread rollout of AI Overviews, Google is now introducing its new AI Mode to meet the evolving expectations of users – who are increasingly accustomed to conversational responses. 

Here’s everything you need to know about AI Mode! 

What Exactly Is AI Mode?

AI Mode is a new conversational search mode in Google. It allows users to ask long, complex, and nuanced questions and receive AI-generated answers enriched with web links, charts, tables, and sometimes even images or videos.

In practical terms, it’s a new tab within Google Search, alongside Google Images, News, and Google Shopping. This mode uses Gemini 2.5 (Google’s language model) to automatically break down the query, run parallel searches on subtopics, and generate a synthesised, structured, and personalised response.

Unlike AI Overviews, which are discretely integrated at the top of the SERPs, AI Mode radically changes the user experience by offering something closer to a “personal assistant”.

Users can interact with the AI, ask for clarifications, explore different angles, or even make decisions – such as buying, booking, or comparing options.

You might also like:

AI Overviews: What Google has Learnt One Year On

AI Overviews: What Google has Learnt One Year On

What Does a Search Look Like with AI Mode?

“AI Mode is just a taste of what’s to come”, promises Elizabeth Reid, VP of Google Search.

And yet, AI Mode already appears to be reshaping the landscape when it comes to the relevance of search results. 

The AI relies on an intelligent query decomposition technique: it begins analysing the user’s question, breaking it down into multiple subtopics, and then launches parallel searches across each of them. 

This process allows Google to explore the web far more thoroughly than with a traditional search, delivering richer, more relevant content – sometimes even anticipating the user’s intent!

How to Get Featured in AI Mode Results?  

In the age of AI Mode and the rise of GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), local businesses must optimise their online presence more than ever. It’s no longer enough to convince traditional search engines – businesses now need to stand out to generative AI systems as well!

To maximise your chances of being visible, here are three key levers to focus on – and with Partoo, activating them is simple:

1. Responding to Conversational Queries

With AI Mode, users are no longer simply asking for information about a store. They want to know where they can find a nearby business that meets their immediate needs, turning GEO into a new opportunity to seize.

The more complete and up-to-date your Google Business Profile is (opening hours, services, descriptions, etc.), the higher your chances of being featured in an AI-generated response.

Managing your listings through Partoo’s Presence Management helps the AI better understand what your business has to offer, and boosts your local GEO performance.

2. Adapting to Multimodal Search

AI Mode analyses not only text, but also images and videos.

By regularly sharing photos and Google Posts through Partoo, you increase your chances of being featured in enriched results – especially for local or visual searches.

For example, if someone searches on Google for haircut ideas, AI Mode could easily show them photos of your work – provided you’ve shared them in your Google Posts!

Rank Higher on Google: Optimise Your Listing

Discover the complete guide to Google Business Profile optimisation, featuring exclusive expert advice and actionable checklists to boost your local visibility.

Download your White Paper

3. Optimising Your Store Locator

Google’s AI places strong emphasis on geolocation

A well-designed store locator, optimised for local GEO and connected to your business listings, can significantly improve the accuracy of your results in AI Mode – especially for queries that signal purchase intent, such as “where to buy” o “near me”. 

A high-quality store locator includes structured data (schema.org), which Google uses to better interpret local content and deliver relevant, nearby results.

Want to learn more about the role of store locators in the age of GEO? Watch our dedicated webinar!

Source: * Google Search study “How people are using AI Mode in the U.S.”, April 2026