Google’s Search is no longer being framed as a simple gateway to blue links. At Google I/O 2026, the company positioned Search as a personal AI assistant that can answer questions, monitor information, and help complete tasks in a more conversational way.
That shift is centered on AI Mode, the feature Google introduced last year. Instead of relying on short keyword phrases, users can now ask in natural language, and Google says the experience has already passed one billion monthly users.
A more conversational Search experience
Google is expanding AI Mode more aggressively by making Gemini 3.5 Flash the default global AI model inside it. The move is meant to make responses smarter and more context-aware, while keeping Search closer to an ongoing conversation than a one-off query tool.
The company also says users can continue follow-up questions directly from AI Overviews without starting over. Search is designed to remember context, so the exchange can keep moving naturally while surfacing links and articles that become more relevant over time.
Search inputs are expanding beyond text
The search box itself is also becoming more flexible. Users can now provide input not only through text, but also through images, files, videos, and even Chrome tabs.
Google says this smarter search box is rolling out starting today in every country and language where AI Mode is available. That makes Search less dependent on a single text field and more open to different kinds of context from the start.
Agents that work in the background
One of the most significant additions is search agents. These let users create, customize, and manage multiple AI agents directly inside Search, and those agents can keep working in the background.
Google is launching the feature first with information agents. They are built to scan blogs, news sites, social posts, and real-time sources such as finance, shopping, and sports data for 24 hours without repeated manual checks from the user.
The company’s apartment example shows the intended use clearly. A user can describe what they need once, and the AI agent keeps watching listings and sends a notification when something matches.
From finding information to taking action
Google is also broadening agentic booking in Search. The feature can help with booking local services and experiences by bringing together pricing, availability, and direct booking links in one place.
For some categories, Search can go further and make calls to businesses on the user’s behalf. Google specifically points to home repair, beauty, and pet care as examples where that capability applies.
The company is also introducing the ability for Search to create mini apps and custom dashboards. Those are meant for repetitive tasks such as wedding planning, moving, or tracking fitness goals.
In one example, a user can ask Search to build a custom fitness tracker. Google says Search can write the tracker automatically using real-time information such as maps, reviews, local weather, and other live data sources.
More dynamic results and more personal context
Google says these experiences are powered by Google Antigravity and Gemini 3.5 Flash’s agentic coding capabilities. Search can also generate dynamic layouts in real time, including tables, charts, simulations, and interactive visuals for complex topics.
That means users are not limited to reading long explanations about subjects such as astrophysics or mechanical systems. They can interact with AI-generated visual explanations as they appear.
Personalization is also becoming part of the redesign. Google announced Personal Intelligence for Search, which allows Search to connect securely with information from Google apps such as Gmail and Google Photos.
The goal is to make answers more relevant to individual needs. With that connection, Search moves further away from a universal search engine and closer to an AI system that understands habits, tasks, and preferences.
Source: www.indiatoday.in