Google’s AI Mode Goes Public: Here’s What’s New for Searchers
Google has quietly taken a big step forward in its AI journey—AI Mode is now being tested in the wild. For the first time, users don’t have to sign up for Search Labs to experience AI-powered results. If you’re in the U.S. and over 18, you might already see it live.
The company also introduced new features that make search results more visual and useful, including product cards, place listings, and a brand-new history tab that saves your past queries.
🧪 AI Mode Now Testing in the Wild
Google’s Soufi Esmaeilzadeh shared that a small percentage of U.S. users are now seeing the AI Mode tab appear directly in their search experience—without having to opt in through Search Labs.
This soft rollout signals something bigger: AI Mode may soon be available to everyone, possibly as early as Google I/O in the next few weeks.
And there’s more—the waitlist is gone. Anyone 18 or older in the U.S. can now opt in and try out AI Mode immediately.
🛍 Product & Place Cards Added to AI Results
One of the most helpful additions is the rollout of product and place cards in AI-generated results.
These cards pull directly from Google Shopping Graph and Google Business Profiles. Here’s how they work:
- Local spots like restaurants, salons, or furniture stores show ratings, reviews, hours, and live busyness.
- Products display real-time prices, current promotions, shipping options, and even in-stock availability.
Let’s say you search for best vintage shops for mid-century modern furniture—Google’s AI Mode will show you:
- Store names
- Photos
- Business hours
- Direct call buttons
- Directions and navigation links
It’s Google Search, but smarter and more action-oriented.
🕓 History Tab Makes Search Smarter
Google also added a history panel that lets users revisit past searches and pick up right where they left off.
This feature could be incredibly useful for research, trip planning, shopping comparisons, and more. It brings a layer of continuity to your search sessions—something classic search never offered before.
🧠 What This Means for Users and SEOs
AI Mode is becoming more than just a test—it’s the future of Google Search. And with added features like product data, local listings, and search history, Google is clearly aiming for:
- More context-rich results
- Better commercial intent targeting
- A stickier, more app-like experience
For SEOs and marketers, this shift means optimizing your Google Business Profiles and product feeds is more important than ever. If you’re not feeding clean, structured data into Google, you may not appear in these AI-powered moments.
🔍 Did You Know?
Google’s Shopping Graph powers over 35 billion product listings—and now AI Mode is tapping into that massive data set to surface better results.
🧭 Final Thought
As Google tests and refines AI Mode, the future of search looks more personalized, visual, and dynamic. Whether you’re a casual searcher or a seasoned SEO, it’s time to rethink how people interact with results—and how your content fits into that evolving experience.