Google announced Thursday that it is rolling out a new way to explore the web using AI Mode, a conversational search experience. If you’re using AI mode on Chrome desktop, clicking a link will open the webpage alongside AI mode.
The goal is to keep your searches in context while making it easier to explore related websites, compare details, and ask follow-up questions, the tech giant said.
For example, if you want to buy a new coffee maker, you can explain what you’re looking for in AI mode and get a variety of options. Clicking on one opens the retailer’s website next to the AI mode, where you can ask specific questions like “How easy is it to clean?” AI mode uses context from the page and from across the web to answer questions.
“Early testers loved not having to constantly switch tabs to see comprehensive articles or long video help,” Google explained in a blog post. “And we’ve found that using both search and the web in parallel allows us to stay focused on the task while exploring useful web pages.”
Google also announced a new way to search across the Chrome tabs you’re already viewing.
On Chrome desktop or mobile, you can tap the new “Plus” menu on the New Tab page or in the AI mode search box to select recent tabs to include in your search. This means you can combine multiple tabs, images, and files and incorporate that context into your AI mode search.
For example, if you’re researching local hiking trails and already have several tabs open, you can add them to your search to find similar trails elsewhere. Or, if you’re studying for a statistics exam, you can pull in context from open tabs, class notes, lecture slides, etc. and ask for examples to explain concepts.
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The new AI Mode update is currently available in the US, and Google plans to expand the update to other regions in the future.
