Google rolled out its experimental AI Mode for users in India today, expanding the reach of its latest AI-powered search experience. Available through Search Labs, the feature introduces a conversational, Q&A-style search model. Indian users can now opt in to test the new mode, which supports voice and photo inputs. The company has shared that the tool is still in early testing and requires user activation. This action demonstrates Google’s increased efforts to reshape who engages with resources like search, especially in areas with large mobile-first audiences. India has over 870 million internet users and is central to this shift, and is now the latest test site for AI-powered search tools.
AI Mode Offers Long-form Query Capabilities
The new Google AI Mode is built to support exploratory and multi-step queries. Users can now input longer, more natural enquiries, which the system handles with improved reasoning and contextual understanding. According to Google, early users of AI Mode tend to submit questions two to three times longer than those seen in traditional search.
Powered by a modified version of Gemini 2.5 aimed at broadening the depth and flexibility of queries, the tool taps Google’s existing generative AI architecture, and uses some combination of text, image, and voice input to create a multimodal experience. The company said it is part of a wider effort to make accessing complex information simpler.
Voice Search and Photo Inputs Enhance Accessibility
The inclusion of voice search and picture search in the Indian rollout is one of the biggest announcements from this month’s change. Given the growing popularity of voice-based search in India, Google is allowing users to speak directly into the new AI mode.
Picture search allows users to submit visual inputs, i.e. upload or live camera shots to ask questions by providing visual input. This multimodal experience fully embraces the India digital phenomena of regionally spoken languages, speech input and non-text based searches. Using voice input or using visual tools in Google AI mode illustrates Google’s direction toward more human-centered AI.
Search Labs Drives Early Access and Feedback
To access Google AI Mode, Indian users must opt in through Search Labs, the company’s dedicated testbed for experimental features. This is similar to how Google rolled out the premium, AI features in the U.S., with the premium subscribers testing the functionality first, then the rest of the public after Google I/O.
Currently, AI Mode is only available in English, though Google is not opposed to supporting regional Indian languages at some point in the future. The phased roll out will help Google to fine-tune features based on first-hand experience in multitude of languages style of usage and mobile-only view. The use of Search Labs is indicative of Google’s reliance on collecting live data and user history, to help ensure that its AI tools emerged along with user anticipation and behavior.
AI Overviews Gain Momentum Amid Competitive Landscape
Google also continues to push AI Overviews, a feature that condenses complex queries into digestible summaries. Already adopted by over 1.5 billion users globally, AI Overviews have helped drive a 10% usage increase on qualifying searches. This rollout in India is a nice complement to the AI Overviews and also reflects Google’s attempt to remain grounded in the face of growing interest in AI-native competitors like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Although the company still holds a lead in search, competition is mounting in the form of chat-based AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity, both of which provide more dynamic, conversational interfaces than traditional search results . Google is putting its effort into AI Mode, voice search, and integrations through Search Labs as a determined and proactive response to the other models, demonstrating commitment to advancing its search engine in the AI age, particularly in countries with faster growing digital markets like India.
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