Google is taking a significant step forward in its AI-ification of Search by expanding AI Overviews to more types of queries and introducing a new "AI Mode" that brings a search-centric chatbot to the core Google experience. The company announced on Wednesday that AI Overviews will now be available to users worldwide, including those who are logged out of Google, marking a significant expansion of its AI-generated search results.

The introduction of AI Mode, currently available only to users paying for Google One AI Premium, signals a major shift in Google's approach to search. This new feature allows users to switch to a chatbot-like search experience, where they can enter a query and receive a generated answer based on Google's search index, accompanied by a few supporting links. The AI Mode is designed to provide a more conversational and interactive search experience, leveraging Google's advanced language models to deliver more accurate and relevant results.

According to Robby Stein, VP of product on the Search team, AI Overviews have been successful in bringing different kinds of questions to Google, including more complex ones that may have been harder to answer before. The integration of the Gemini 2.0 model into AI Overviews is expected to make Google more useful for questions requiring sophisticated reasoning, such as math and coding.

Stein emphasized that AI Overviews and AI Mode are not intended to replace traditional search results, but rather to provide users with a more comprehensive and contextualized search experience. He believes that AI Overviews will encourage users to click through to websites, leading to longer engagement times and more valuable interactions with those websites.

The expansion of AI Overviews and the introduction of AI Mode raise important questions about the future of search and Google's role in it. As the company continues to invest in AI-generated content, it's clear that the traditional link-based search results are giving way to more interactive and conversational experiences. While Stein downplayed the idea that AI Mode is a Trojan horse for a complete search overhaul, it's undeniable that Google's AI efforts are fundamentally changing the way we interact with the search engine.

The implications of this shift are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the internet ecosystem as a whole. As Google moves away from linking to websites, it's unclear what this means for the fundamental value trade it made with the internet. Stein's assurances notwithstanding, it's clear that Google's AI-ification of Search is a significant development that will continue to shape the future of online interaction.

As Google continues to push the boundaries of AI-generated search results, it's likely that we'll see even more innovative features and capabilities emerge. For now, AI Mode remains a test feature available only to premium users, but its potential to revolutionize the search experience is undeniable.