Google has begun quietly testing an AI Mode button on its desktop Search homepage—a significant move that further embeds artificial intelligence into the everyday user experience.
This new feature, available to select users through Google’s Search Labs programme, places a sparkle-glass icon next to the familiar microphone and Lens icons in the main search bar. When clicked, the button redirects users to a dedicated page (google.com/aimode) featuring:
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AI-powered search responses
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A side panel with recent query history
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Interactive elements tailored to generative AI results
In some early versions, the AI Mode button even replaces the iconic “I’m Feeling Lucky” option, signalling a shift from Google’s quirky past to its AI-driven future. A subtle animation highlights the button briefly when the homepage loads.
On mobile, a similar test has been spotted on the Google app’s search widget for Android, though it hasn't been rolled out widely in stable versions yet.
Why it matters:
This rollout is more than cosmetic—it reflects Google’s broader AI search evolution. The company’s AI Overviews feature, which delivers summarized responses to queries, has become controversial, especially among publishers.
A recent Wall Street Journal report showed:
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Traffic from Google to publishers like The New York Times fell to 36.5% in April 2025, down from 44% in 2022 (per Similarweb).
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Sectors most impacted include news, health, travel, and product reviews, where users increasingly rely on AI summaries and skip clicking links.
Google’s stance:
Google claims its AI Overviews actually increase engagement, though it hasn’t clarified whether this engagement benefits the publishers who provide the underlying content.
Publisher response:
Faced with traffic losses, publishers are exploring survival strategies:
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The New York Times recently signed a licensing deal with Amazon.
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The Atlantic, Vox Media, and others have entered content partnerships with OpenAI.
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Perplexity AI is experimenting with ad revenue-sharing models when publisher content appears in chatbot answers.
What’s next?
The AI Mode button could signal the beginning of a full redesign of how users interact with Google Search. If made permanent, this feature could shift user habits even further toward AI-first discovery, redefining the way the web is browsed—and how it’s monetized.
