Google has rolled out AI Mode in the UK, bringing an advanced AI-driven search experience that allows users to engage with information in a more conversational and exploratory way.
This marks a key milestone in Google’s global rollout of generative AI within its core search product, reshaping how users interact with search results and how businesses need to think about visibility.
Image Credit: Google
As of July 28 2025, UK users can start using AI Mode through:
- A new tab available on desktop searches
- The Google app on Android and iOS platforms
To try AI Mode, users must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have English set as their preferred language
- Join Search Labs, Google’s testing ground for early-access features
This follows previous rollouts in the United States and India, bringing this advanced search experience to a wider global audience.
What AI Mode offers
AI Mode isn’t just a visual redesign, it’s a reimagining of how Google Search works. Powered by Google’s advanced Gemini 2.5 model, it can interpret complex, nuanced questions and return structured, relevant results much faster than traditional search.
“AI Mode is particularly helpful for exploratory questions and for more complicated tasks like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos. In fact, we’ve found that early users of AI Mode are asking questions that are two or three times the length of traditional search queries.” – Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management for Search at Google.
Here’s how AI Mode differs from traditional search results:
AI-powered responses
Instead of returning a long list of blue links, AI Mode synthesizes information from across the web to produce a more cohesive, structured overview. For example, instead of digging through five websites to compare hiking shoes, you might see a breakdown of features, pros/cons, or use cases, right at the top of your results.
Follow-up prompts
After the AI provides a response, users can choose from suggested follow-up questions that let them refine, expand, or redirect their search, all without starting over. This makes the experience more conversational and tailored.
Multimodal search capabilities
AI Mode supports text, voice, and image inputs, allowing users to take a photo of a product, ask a question with their voice, or type in a query, and receive intelligent, structured responses regardless of how the query was made.
Search context & transparency
AI Mode isn’t a black box. It includes links to relevant web pages that contributed to its response. If the AI model lacks confidence in its output, it defaults back to more traditional search results, ensuring reliability and user control.
What does it mean for businesses?
This release signals a broader shift in how search is evolving. Google is aiming to make search more intuitive and helpful, especially for questions that once required several queries or digging through multiple sites.
For users, it means:
- Less time digging through links
- Faster, more intuitive answers
- A more natural, back-and-forth discovery process
For businesses and marketers, it raises important visibility questions:
- How will AI Mode impact website traffic if fewer users click traditional links?
- How can content be optimized to show up in these AI-generated answers?
- Will structured data, semantic relevance, or authority signals play a larger role in surfacing content?
Google says it’s committed to ensuring publishers and content creators remain part of the discovery process, linking to sources and highlighting original content. But industry voices are watching closely to see how these changes affect organic reach and engagement.
How to get started with AI Mode in the UK
- Visit Google.co.uk or open the Google app
- Tap the Search Labs icon (beaker symbol)
- Toggle AI Mode on
- Begin searching and explore the new experience
AI Mode: Terms to know
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Search Labs | Google’s feature preview program where users test experimental tools |
| AI summaries | AI-generated answers that compile and present info from multiple sources |
| Multimodal input | Ability to search using text, voice, or images |
| Follow-up prompts | Suggested next questions based on your current search |
| Click-through traffic | The number of users who visit a website from a search link |
| Source links | Hyperlinks to the web pages used in forming AI responses |
| Gemini 2.5 model | Google’s latest large language model powering AI Mode, designed for deeper reasoning and multimodal input |
| Query fan-out | A process where Google’s AI interprets the intent behind your search and automatically generates multiple related sub-queries. Helping users explore broader, related aspects of their original question. |
Google’s AI Mode is not just a new feature, it could be a glimpse into the future of online search.
If your website or content strategy relies on organic traffic, it’s time to start thinking about:
- How your content answers real user questions
- How well it’s structured and surfaced for AI-driven experiences
- What visibility looks like in a world where AI summaries may come before your link
Want to make sure your business stays visible in the new era of AI-powered search? Get in touch with us today to learn how our award-winning SEO services can help.
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