Google is expanding AI Mode, its AI-powered search experience, to users in the UK. The feature is now appearing as a tab on the standard Search results page and is also live in the Google app for both Android and iOS.

This update follows the rollout sequence that began in the U.S. in March 2025, when AI Mode was first introduced through Search Labs. It later became a default feature for U.S. users in mid-June without requiring a Labs opt-in.

India followed a similar path, first gaining access through Labs in June, and then seeing a wider rollout in the weeks that followed.

How AI Mode works for search queries

According to Google, a customized version of Gemini 2.5 powers AI Mode, Google's latest AI model. It also uses a technique called query fan-out, which breaks a user’s question into subtopics and sends multiple queries in the background. This enables the system to gather more relevant details, combine them, and provide a more comprehensive response.

For example, instead of simply answering "best places to visit in London," the AI might unpack that into sub-questions like “with kids,” “in summer,” or “budget-friendly,” and bring those results together in one snapshot.

According to Hema Budaraju, VP of Product Management at Google Search, early data from users shows that people are asking longer and more specific queries in AI Mode, often two or three times the length of typical searches. “AI Mode is a new, intuitive way to address your most complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups,” Budaraju wrote. She added that the goal is to "satisfy your curiosity in a richer way."

Interaction through text, voice, and images

The experience goes beyond just typing questions. Users can now speak directly to AI Mode or take a photo to trigger a visual query. The voice input is designed to understand natural language, so users don’t have to stick to keyword-based phrases.

Google is positioning this tool as an evolution of how people interact with Search. Rather than typing short keywords, users can now ask layered, detailed questions and receive structured, AI-generated answers in return. The company says this is part of its effort to handle increasingly complex search needs.

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