Google AI Mode: How to Win Traffic in the New Search Era


This guide breaks down the shift and the actions you should take today.
What is Google AI Mode?
Powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5, it breaks your question into dozens of mini-searches (“query fan-out”), pulls real-time data from across the web, and returns a clear answer with source links you can check. You can ask by typing, speaking, or even showing it a photo, then keep the thread going with follow-up questions.
Google AI Mode vs. AI Overviews vs. Classic Search - how are they different?
Classic Search
AI Overviews
AI Mode
List of blue links
One-shot AI summary above links
Full chat-style answer with follow-ups
Depends on the page you click
Brief paragraph or two
Multi-step reasoning and comparisons
Indexed web pages
Top-ranking pages
Gemini 2.5 + “query fan-out” pulls dozens of live sub-queries at once
Typed keywords
Typed keywords
Type, voice, or image (multimodal)
Click to another site
No follow-up inside box
Ongoing Q&A thread right in SERP
Standard text & Shopping ads
Experiments in progress
Ads tested inside conversational flow, targeting longer “task” queries
- Ranking isn’t just about top 10 links anymore; visibility now includes being cited or summarized inside AI answers.
- Customers may finish their research without ever leaving Google. Your brand still needs to surface - ideally as a cited source or recommended product.
Google AI Mode features
1. Query fan-out retrieval
2. Gemini 2.5 reasoning
3. Multimodal inputs
4. Deep Search (Labs)
4. Search live camera chat
5. Agentic tasks & smart shopping
6. Personal context (opt-in)
7. Custom charts & data visuals
How to access Google AI Mode?
If the AI Mode tab already shows up
- Open Google Search on desktop (Chrome, Edge, or Safari) or the Google app.
- Look for the new “AI Mode” tab just under the search bar.
- Click or tap it, and you’re in. No extra sign-ups required.
If you don’t see the tab yet
- Join Search Labs (labs.google.com/search) with a personal Gmail account.
- In Labs, toggle on “AI Mode”. This puts you on the early-access list.
- Re-open Google Search or the Google app; the tab should appear.
- Mobile only: update the Google app to the latest version first.
How to use Google AI Mode?
- Enter a question as usual (text, voice, or image).
- Review the AI answer at the top. It’s a concise summary with clickable citations.
- Ask follow-ups in the Ask anything… box to refine or branch the conversation.
- Tap a source link when you need the full article.
Every follow-up query counts as a fresh “mini-search,” so structure your content in bite-sized, well-cited sections that can be lifted into answers.
How to remove AI Mode from Google?
Method
What to do
When it helps
Use the “Web” filter
After searching, click/tap Web (next to All). This hides AI answers and shows classic links only.
Quick one-off search.
Turn off the Labs toggle
Visit Search Labs → toggle AI Mode off. Refresh Google Search.
You had enabled AI Mode manually.
Browser tools / custom search
Install a Chrome/Firefox extension like Hide Google AI Overviews or create a custom search engine with &udm=14 to force Web results.
Power users who never want AI results.
SEO Impact: What to look forward to & what to change in your SEO strategy?
1. Your Search Console numbers will look “bigger” but fuzzier
2. Fewer clicks when the AI answer nails it
3. Broader, well-structured pages rise to the top
4. EEAT and schema are “must have” now
5. Talk like a conversation
- Audit your top pages – add clear H2s, bullet lists, and schema.
- Build small FAQ clusters around each core topic.
- Refresh bios and cite data to boost trust.
- Track weekly – run test searches to see if you’re quoted in Google AI Mode.
- Sync with paid search – long, chat-style queries are also ad spots now, so align copy and landing pages.
Are you ready for Google AI Mode?
- Do your top pages answer the main question in the first two lines?
- Is your structured data (FAQ, How-To, Product) up to date?
- Can visitors see real author expertise and fresh sources?
- Do you track weekly shifts in clicks and impressions?
- Do you have a partner ready to test and tweak as AI Mode grows?
F.A.Q
- Sign in with a personal Gmail account (Workspace logins don’t work yet).
- Go to Search Labs (labs.google.com/search) and switch on AI Mode.
- Refresh Google Search or the Google app; the new AI Mode tab will appear.
- Type, speak, or snap a photo of your question.
- Read the chat-style answer and tap any cited link for full details.
- Ask follow-up questions in the “Ask anything…” box to refine results. The AI keeps context, so each follow-up feels like a natural conversation.
- Toggle it off in Search Labs: open Labs and switch AI Mode to “Off.”
- Use the “Web” filter after any search to hide AI responses for that query.
- Install a browser extension (e.g., “Hide Google AI Overviews”) or add &udm=14 to the search URL to force classic results.
- Placement: AI Overviews appear as a short box above the regular links; AI Mode lives in its own tab and takes over the full results view.
- Model version: AI Overviews run on Gemini 2.0, while AI Mode uses the newer Gemini 2.5, giving it stronger reasoning skills.
- Depth of response: AI Overviews give you a quick, one-shot summary; AI Mode lets you keep the conversation going with follow-up questions.
- Inputs supported: AI Overviews handle typed text only; AI Mode also accepts voice and images.
- Availability: AI Overviews are automatically shown on many queries; AI Mode is still rolling out -look for the “AI Mode” tab or enable it in Search Labs first.

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Co-founder and CEO of Concept21
He earned two master's degrees – Computer Science and Marketing Management – in Poland and Portugal. He has 10+ years of experience in Silicon Valley, Poland, Portugal, USA, and UK, helping startups, financial institutions, and SMEs improve operations through digitization.
Co-founder and CEO of Concept21
He earned two master's degrees – Computer Science and Marketing Management – in Poland and Portugal. He has 10+ years of experience in Silicon Valley, Poland, Portugal, USA, and UK, helping startups, financial institutions, and SMEs improve operations through digitization.
