Google AI Mode: How to Use It and What It Means for Your Business

Google AI Mode is Google's most advanced AI search experience. Instead of a list of links, it gives you a conversational answer with sources, and you can keep asking follow-up questions. To open it, go to google.com/ai, or tap AI Mode in the Google app or on the Google homepage. It is free and available in India in English, Hindi and several other Indian languages.

Below, you'll learn how to use AI Mode step by step, how it differs from AI Overviews and Gemini, and what it means for businesses that depend on Google traffic.

Open Google AI Mode →

What Is Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is an AI-powered search mode inside Google Search, built on Google's Gemini models. You ask a question in plain language and get a detailed answer with links to the websites it used.

It works differently from normal search. AI Mode splits your question into smaller sub-questions, searches for each one at the same time, and combines the results into one answer. Google calls this "query fan-out". That is why it handles longer, more complex questions well, like comparing options or planning a trip.

You can ask using text, voice, images, PDFs or a web link.

How to Use Google AI Mode (Step by Step)

On Android (Google app)

1. Open the Google app.
2. Tap AI Mode on the home screen, just below the search bar.
3. Type, speak (tap the microphone) or add a photo to ask your question.
4. Ask follow-up questions in the same conversation.

On iPhone or iPad

1. Install or open the Google app from the App Store.
2. Tap AI Mode on the home screen.
3. Ask your question by typing, voice or camera.
4. You can also open google.com/ai in Safari or Chrome.

On a computer (desktop or laptop)

1. Open your browser and go to google.com/ai. This takes you straight into AI Mode.
2. Or go to google.com, type your question in the search bar and click AI Mode.
3. Type your question in the Ask anything bar at the bottom.
4. Read the answer and click the source links to check details.
5. Type a follow-up question in the same bar to go deeper.

Ask with voice, images, files or a link

• Voice: tap the microphone in the Ask anything bar and speak.
• Images: tap the + menu, upload a photo, then ask about it. For example: "What plant is this and how do I care for it?"
• PDFs and files: tap the + menu and upload a PDF, a local file or a Google Drive file, then ask questions about it.
• A web page: paste a URL into the Ask anything bar and ask a question about that page.
• Search Live: in the Google app, use voice and your camera for a live back-and-forth conversation. It is available in India in English and Hindi.

Pro tip: make AI Mode your Chrome shortcut

1. In Chrome, go to chrome://settings/searchEngines.
2. Under Site search, click Add.
3. Name: AI Mode. Shortcut: @ai. URL: https://www.google.com/search?udm=50&q=%s
4. Now type @ai, a space and your question in the address bar to open it in AI Mode.

Google AI Mode vs AI Overviews vs Gemini

These three are often confused. Here is the difference at a glance.

Simple rule: use AI Overviews for quick facts, AI Mode for research questions that need web sources, and Gemini for creating or doing things.

Is Google AI Mode Free and Available in India?

Yes, AI Mode is free. You only need a Google account to save history and get personalised answers. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers get higher limits on Google's most advanced model inside AI Mode.

Yes, it is available in India. It launched in India in June 2025 and now supports English, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu, among many other languages.

To use AI Mode in Hindi, simply type or speak your question in Hindi.

AI Mode Not Showing? Try These Fixes

1. Go directly to google.com/ai.
2. Update the Google app to the latest version.
3. Sign in to a personal Google account. Some work or school accounts have it restricted by the admin.
4. Turn on Search history in your Google account to save and continue AI Mode chats.
5. Clear your browser cache or try another browser.

How to Turn Off AI Mode or Delete Its History

Google does not offer a switch to remove AI Mode completely. You simply don't have to click it. If you want only the classic list of links, click the Web tab under the search bar.

To delete AI Mode history:

1. Open AI Mode on your computer.
2. Click AI Mode history on the left.
3. Click the three dots next to a search, then Delete. Or choose Delete all at the top.
4. To remove it fully, also delete it from your Google Search history in My Activity.

7 Tips to Get Better Answers From AI Mode

1. Ask full questions, not keywords. For example: "best CRM for a 10-person sales team in India under ₹2,000 a month".
2. Add context such as your location, budget and purpose.
3. Ask follow-ups instead of starting a new search.
4. Ask for a format: "compare in a table" or "give me a checklist".
5. Upload a photo or PDF when words aren't enough.
6. Check the sources by opening the links before important decisions.
7. Rephrase and ask again if an answer looks wrong. AI Mode can make mistakes.

How Google AI Mode Affects Your Business

The impact on organic traffic

Informational searches are affected most. When AI Mode answers directly, some users no longer click through to a website. But websites cited inside AI Mode answers gain brand visibility and better-qualified visitors. Being cited is becoming as valuable as ranking on page one.

What Google now rewards

AI Mode gives more weight to depth, factual accuracy, clear structure, structured data and E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trust). Thin, keyword-stuffed pages rarely get cited.

Which searches are most affected?

• Informational searches ("What is X?", "How does Y work?") trigger full AI explanations, often reducing clicks.
• Research and comparison searches ("Best X for Y", "A vs B") get AI summaries that may recommend specific brands.
• How-to searches often get a complete step-by-step answer on Google.
• Local and "near me" searches still show Google Business Profiles prominently, with AI adding context.
• Transactional searches ("Buy X", "Price of Y") are least affected.

How Does Google AI Mode Choose Which Brands to Show?

AI Mode doesn't pick brands at random. It breaks a question into sub-searches, pulls information from high-quality web pages, and builds one answer from them. Brands that appear tend to have:

• Clear, factual pages that directly answer the question, such as pricing, features and comparisons.
• Mentions on other trusted sites such as reviews, directories, news and comparison articles.
• Strong E-E-A-T: named experts, real case studies and an up-to-date About page.
• Structured data such as Organization, Product, LocalBusiness and FAQ schema.
• A complete Google Business Profile with reviews, for local searches.

If competitors keep showing up instead of you, it usually means they are mentioned on more third-party sites or answer the question more directly.

Do Google Ads Appear in AI Mode?

Yes. Google has started showing ads inside AI Mode and AI Overviews, including in India. They are labelled "Sponsored" and appear when relevant to both the question and the AI answer.

There is no separate AI Mode campaign type. Ads come from existing Google Ads campaigns:

• Search campaigns using broad match or AI Max for Search
• Performance Max campaigns
• Shopping campaigns

To improve your chances, use broad match or AI Max, add strong ad assets and clear landing pages, and give Google accurate product and business information. Need help? See our Google Ads (Search Engine Marketing) services.

How to Optimise Your Business for Google AI Mode

1. Prioritise E-E-A-T across all content

• Attribute content to named people with real, verifiable expertise.
• Show first-hand experience: case studies, original data and client examples.
• Turn your About page into a trust page with team credentials, awards and affiliations.

2. Add complete schema markup

• Add FAQPage schema to pages with questions and answers.
• Use Article schema on blog posts, with author, date and organisation details.
• Keep Organization and LocalBusiness schema consistent with your Google Business Profile.

3. Write answer-first content

• Use clear H2 and H3 headings phrased as questions or direct statements.
• Start each section with a direct answer, then add detail.
• Include data, statistics and credible sources.
• Keep paragraphs short and easy to scan. Our content marketing and writing team can help.

4. Build and maintain your Google Business Profile

• Keep address, hours, website and services up to date.
• Collect a steady stream of detailed Google reviews.
• Post weekly updates, offers and photos.
• Fill in the Products and Services sections so Google's AI has precise information.

5. Build topical authority, not just keywords

• Create a pillar page for each main topic, supported by detailed subtopic articles.
• Link related pages to each other.
• Update existing content regularly so it stays accurate. Fast pages help too: read why website speed matters for SEO and sales.

6. Monitor results in Google Search Console

• AI Mode clicks and impressions are included in the normal GSC Performance report, combined with web search. There is no separate AI Mode filter.
• Track branded and non-branded searches separately to spot changes in click behaviour.
• Watch for falling CTR on informational pages, which may mean AI is answering without a click.

Want us to do this for you? See our AI Search Optimization (AEO & GEO) services.

FAQs

1. What is Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is an AI search experience inside Google Search. It gives a conversational answer with source links and lets you ask follow-up questions.

2. How do I open Google AI Mode?

Go to google.com/ai, or click AI Mode below the search bar on google.com, or tap AI Mode in the Google app.

3. Is Google AI Mode free?

Yes. It is free for anyone with access. AI Pro and Ultra subscribers get higher limits on Google's most advanced model.

4. Is AI Mode available in India and in Hindi?

Yes. AI Mode is available across India in English, Hindi and other Indian languages including Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada and Malayalam.

5. What is the difference between AI Mode and AI Overviews?

AI Overviews appear automatically at the top of some results. AI Mode is a separate mode you open for longer, conversational research with follow-ups.

6. Can I turn off Google AI Mode?

There is no switch to remove it. Use the Web tab under the search bar to see only links, and delete AI Mode history from the AI Mode history panel.

7. Will Google AI Mode reduce my website's traffic?

It can reduce clicks on simple informational searches. Sites cited inside AI Mode answers often get more qualified visitors. Transactional and branded searches are less affected.

8. How can my business appear in Google AI Mode answers?

Publish clear, answer-first content, add schema markup, build E-E-A-T, keep your Google Business Profile complete and build topical authority.

9. How does Google AI Mode decide which brands to show?

It builds answers from high-quality web pages that directly answer the question. Brands with clear content, trusted third-party mentions, strong E-E-A-T and structured data are more likely to appear.

10. Do ads appear in Google AI Mode?

Yes. Sponsored ads can appear in AI Mode, including in India. They come from existing Search, Performance Max and Shopping campaigns.

Conclusion

Google AI Mode is free, easy to open at google.com/ai, and now available across India in many languages. For users, it is a faster way to research. For businesses, it changes the goal from ranking in a list of links to being cited in an AI answer.

At ABC Designs, we help businesses get found, cited and chosen in AI-driven search, from GEO strategy and structured content to technical SEO and Google Business Profile optimisation.

Get a free AI visibility check: share your website and we'll show you where you stand in Google AI Mode. Contact us or call +91 84333 03188.