Google Just Turned Search Into an AI Agent That Works for You 24/7
At the centre of the update is a redesigned Search box that Google describes as its biggest interface upgrade in over 25 years.
Google has announced the most significant transformation of its search engine in more than two decades, rolling out a suite of artificial intelligence-powered features designed to make Search more conversational, personalised and task-oriented.
At its annual I/O developer conference, the company revealed a redesigned AI-driven Search experience built on its latest Gemini 3.5 Flash model. The update introduces a new intelligent Search box, AI agents capable of performing ongoing tasks, and custom “mini apps” generated directly inside Search.
The changes mark Google’s latest push to merge traditional web search with generative AI as competition in the AI space intensifies.
According to Google, AI Mode, first introduced last year, has already crossed one billion monthly users, with search activity continuing to rise as people use AI for increasingly complex queries.
Search Becomes More Conversational and Context-Aware
At the centre of the update is a redesigned Search box that Google describes as its biggest interface upgrade in over 25 years. Unlike traditional keyword-based search, the new interface is built to handle longer, more detailed and multimodal queries.
Users can now search using text, images, files, videos and even Chrome tabs. The AI-powered system also suggests refined prompts and follow-up questions, helping users articulate complex requests more naturally.
Google said Search conversations will now flow seamlessly between AI Overviews and AI Mode, allowing users to continue asking follow-up questions while maintaining context throughout the interaction. The company claims this will make search results and supporting links more relevant over time.
The upgraded AI Mode is now powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash, Google’s newest lightweight AI model optimised for coding and autonomous “agentic” tasks. The rollout begins globally in all regions where AI Mode is currently available.
Google is also expanding its “Personal Intelligence” features to nearly 200 countries and 98 languages. Users can connect apps such as Gmail and Google Photos, with Google Calendar support arriving soon, enabling Search to deliver responses based on personal context and preferences.
The company emphasised that these integrations are optional and controlled entirely by users.
AI Agents and “Mini Apps” Signal Search’s Next Evolution
A major focus of the announcement was the introduction of “Search agents”, AI assistants designed to work continuously in the background on specific tasks.
"We’re starting with information agents. Operating in the background, 24/7, these agents intelligently reason across information to find exactly what you need at exactly the right moment," Elizabeth Reid, Google VP, Search, said in a blog post.
Initially launching as “information agents,” these tools can monitor the web, news sites, blogs, finance data, shopping updates and social media for user-defined topics. Google says the agents can then deliver summarized updates and actionable alerts.
For example, apartment hunters could ask Search to track listings matching exact preferences, while sneaker enthusiasts could receive notifications the moment athletes announce new collaborations.
The feature will first roll out this summer to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Google is also expanding AI-powered booking capabilities in Search. Users will be able to ask Search to find and organize reservations for experiences and services, such as karaoke venues, beauty appointments or pet care providers. In select categories, Google will even call businesses on behalf of users to confirm details and availability.
Another major addition is “agentic coding” within Search. Powered by Google Antigravity and Gemini 3.5 Flash, the feature allows Search to generate interactive visual tools, simulations, trackers and dashboards in real time.
Rather than simply displaying information, Search can now build customised interfaces tailored to ongoing tasks.
Google showcased examples including fitness trackers, wedding planning dashboards and moving checklists that automatically pull in live maps, reviews, weather data and other real-time information.
These AI-generated experiences will begin rolling out in the coming months, initially for paid AI subscribers in the United States.
