Google’s AI Mode search launches in UK with conversational queries

Google Search has expanded AI Mode to the UK, following its earlier launches in the US and India. This conversational search experience offers a more chatbot-like alternative to traditional AI Overviews, allowing users to ask complex, multi-part questions and receive comprehensive answers powered by Gemini 2.5.

What you should know: AI Mode transforms how users interact with Google Search by supporting longer, more conversational queries that are “two or three times the length of traditional search queries.”

• Users can ask complex questions like “Things to do in Edinburgh this weekend with friends. We’re big foodies who like music but also chill vibes and exploring off the beaten track.”
• The feature supports follow-up questions and image uploads, creating a more natural dialogue experience.
• It’s designed for “exploratory questions and for more complicated tasks like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos.”

How it works: AI Mode uses a custom version of Gemini 2.5 with advanced query processing techniques to deliver comprehensive answers.

• The system employs a “query fan-out technique” that breaks down complex questions into subtopics and conducts multiple searches simultaneously.
• Results are then synthesized into a single response with highlighted links for further exploration.
• Users can access AI Mode at google.com/aimode directly or through a new filter in the top-left of regular search results pages.

Platform availability: The feature is accessible across multiple Google platforms and devices.

• On Android and iOS apps, AI Mode appears at the top of the main search tab.
• Users can add an AI Mode shortcut to their home screen search widget for quick access.
• The rollout begins today across the UK market.

The big picture: This expansion represents Google’s continued push to integrate conversational AI directly into its core search product, competing with standalone AI chatbots while maintaining its search dominance. With AI Mode reportedly reaching 100 million monthly users globally, the UK launch signals Google’s confidence in this more interactive search experience as a complement to traditional web search.