Google AI Mode, the conversational AI-powered search experience launched in May 2025, has reached 1 billion monthly users, the company announced at its I/O developer conference on 19 May 2026. Queries have more than doubled every quarter since launch, prompting Google to roll out significant updates including a redesigned search box, faster AI model, and expanded personalisation features.
The milestone signals that AI-powered search has moved beyond early adopters. Google now reports that conversational queries through AI Mode have become a primary search method for hundreds of millions of users, with the feature available globally in 98 languages.
Gemini 3.5 Flash becomes the default model
All AI Mode users globally now receive responses generated by Gemini 3.5 Flash, Google's latest model designed for speed and multimodal understanding. The upgrade replaces the previous default model and is available immediately.
The model handles text, images, video, and uploaded files within a single query. For example, users can upload a photo of a restaurant menu and ask for allergen information, or submit lecture slides and request study questions.
The intelligent search box arrives
Google called the intelligent search box "the biggest upgrade to our search box in over 25 years". The new interface accepts multimodal input - text, images, PDFs, videos, and even open Chrome tabs - and surfaces AI-powered suggestions before the search is submitted.
The feature rolled out on 19 May 2026 in all countries and languages where AI Mode is available. Desktop users see the upgrade immediately, whilst mobile users access it through the Google app.
Search Engine Journal reported in July 2025 that early versions of AI Mode supported image uploads for desktop users, with PDF support planned. The I/O 2026 announcement formalises those capabilities and extends them to video and browser-tab context.
Personal intelligence expands to 98 languages
Personal intelligence, which connects AI Mode to Gmail, Google Photos, and Calendar to provide context-aware answers, expanded to nearly 200 countries and territories across 98 languages. Previously limited to English-language subscribers in the US, the feature is now available without a subscription.
For example, a user can ask "What time is my flight to Berlin?" and AI Mode will scan their Gmail for confirmation emails, check Calendar for itinerary conflicts, and surface relevant Photos from past trips.
Google first introduced personal intelligence in January 2026 as a Labs feature for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. The I/O announcement removes the subscription requirement and makes it globally available.
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Information agents monitor topics around the clock
Google also previewed information agents, a feature launching this summer for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Information agents monitor the web, blogs, news sites, and social posts for topics the user specifies, then deliver updates via email or notification.
A user might ask an information agent to track mentions of a competitor's product launch, legislative developments affecting their industry, or emerging research in a specific field. The agent runs continuously in the background and alerts the user when relevant content appears.
This shifts AI Mode from a query-response model to an ambient monitoring system, positioning it closer to tools like Google Alerts but with natural-language configuration and summarisation.
Follow-up questions come to AI Overviews
Users can now ask follow-up questions directly from AI Overviews - the AI-generated summaries that appear atop standard Google Search results. Previously, follow-up questions were confined to the AI Mode interface at g.ai.
The feature launched globally on desktop and mobile on 19 May 2026, blurring the line between traditional search and AI Mode. Users who start a query in standard search can seamlessly transition to a conversational thread without navigating to a separate interface.
What this means for brand visibility
AI Mode's expansion to 1 billion users and its integration into the core search experience make it a critical surface for brand visibility. As conversational queries grow, traditional SEO signals - titles, meta descriptions, backlink profiles - share influence with factors that determine which sources AI Mode cites in its responses.
Market share (%)
The four leading AI assistants by market share
Google has not published detailed guidance on optimisation for AI Mode citations, but the shift towards personalised, context-aware answers suggests that recency, authority, and alignment with user intent will matter more than ever. Brands that appear in users' Gmail, Photos, or Calendar may gain an edge in personal intelligence responses.
The information agents feature also introduces a new channel for brand monitoring and competitive intelligence. Organisations can configure agents to track mentions, sentiment shifts, and emerging narratives in real time, enabling faster response to reputation risks or market opportunities.
