AI Now Powers Google Search. What Should Businesses Know?

Users will be able to pose more complex, multi-layered queries and set agents to work on personalized tasks 24/7.
Nicole Mousicos
Written By
Published on May 21, 2026
Google Search on laptop on desk

Gemini 3.5 Flash, Google’s latest AI model, will now completely power Google Search.

The Search bar will now generate custom pages with an AI summary when a user submits a query, and users can also ask follow-up questions as well as deploy agents to run background tasks.

Businesses that rely on search engines to reach customers could see drops in their traffic numbers, and the move indicates a wider change in how users navigate the internet.

Google is making massive changes to a Search bar that has long dictated internet navigation. According to a press release published Tuesday, the Search bar will be “completely reimagined with AI.”

Google’s Gemini 3.5 Flash model will run the Search bar entirely, unlocking the ability for users to submit more multi-layered and complex queries, as well as engage more conversationally with the search function.

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This new “intelligent Search box” as Google calls it has already started to roll out in all countries and languages where AI mode is available. This update marks the biggest change to Google Search in over 25 years.

Users traditionally type a query into Google Search and see a list of blue links directing them to different web pages. However, the new Search bar responds to a query with a custom page, fit with an AI-generated summary addressing the query. Much like traditional chatbots, users can also ask follow-up questions.

Similarly, an AI-powered query suggestion system will replace the autocomplete function, enabling more complex and nuanced queries to be answered. Additionally, users can submit queries via images, files, videos, or Chrome tabs, as well as text.

Google states the changes will create a more “seamless” experience for users:

“You can easily ask a follow-question right from an AI Overview, and flow into a conversational back and forth with AI Mode. Your context stays with you, and as you explore more deeply, the links and supporting articles get even more relevant.” – Elizabeth Reid, VP of Search at Google

Google is also introducing agents into the Search experience. Users can dispatch tools to create “information agents,” that operate on a user’s behalf. Reid explains, “if you’re apartment hunting, you can brain dump all of the exact requirements you’re looking for, and your agent will continuously scan for you, notifying you when listings meeting your needs”.

The ongoing changes to Google Search suggests a shift in how users navigate the internet. The introduction of AI Mode made way for more complex and personalized responses to queries, while the development of agents suggests we are nearing a reality where AI handles internet navigation for us.

Businesses already feel the impact changes to Search, particularly those that rely on search traffic to reach their audience. AI Overviews, for instance, caused many businesses to change their strategy in order to maintain their visibility. According to TechCrunch, 2.5 billion users use AI Overviews every month.

Most likely, this latest update means queries will become less rigid and follow a less decisive path. It will also make way for more conversational and longer interactions with search engines. Therefore, businesses should prioritize properly understanding their audiences and effectively targeting their needs.

Written By

Nicole Mousicos

Nicole is Tech.co’s News Editor, reporting on the latest technology news and curating The AI Strat newsletter. After studying English Literature and Creative Writing, they worked on local newspapers and online publications, including Outlander Magazine. Previously, they covered tech products and news at Expert Reviews. Outside of Tech.co, they enjoy sports and video games.

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