logo
Google launches ‘AI Mode' Search in India: Here's what it means, features, how to use it and more…

Google launches ‘AI Mode' Search in India: Here's what it means, features, how to use it and more…

Mint3 days ago
Google and parent company Alphabet's CEO Sundar Pichai announced that they are launching 'AI Mode' in Search for all English language users in India, with expansion for other languages expected in time.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sundar Pichai wrote, 'After an incredible response in Labs, we're starting to roll out AI Mode in Search to everyone in India (English to start). It's a total reimagining of Search, and we're excited for even more people to use it. (sic)'
So, what does AI Mode for Google Search mean? What features do users in India get from the tool? In a blog post, Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management at Search said the tool works 'in diverse ways', provides 'comprehensive response with helpful links', and helps users 'dig deeper with follow-up questions'.
'We're excited to begin rolling out AI Mode to everyone in India, making it easier than ever to ask Google anything you're curious about, get a helpful AI-powered response, and explore topics more deeply on the web,' Budaraju said in the post titled 'AI Mode in Google Search Rolling Out in India'.
She added that AI Mode was first introduced in June, as an experiment in Labs and recieved 'encouraging' responses. '… people appreciating its speed and the quality of the responses. We've seen users putting it to work in diverse ways—from diving deep into topics for learning to understanding complex how-tos,' she stated. According to Budaraju, AI Mode will be rolled out to all Google Search users in India with Labs — no sign-up required.
In the coming days, Search users (English for now) will see a new tab for AI Mode in Search and in the search bar in the Google app.
All features from the Labs launch will be available: type, use your voice, snap a photo with Lens.
The tool provides 'a rich, comprehensive response with helpful links', and allows users to 'dig deeper with follow-up questions', she added.
You can also try it out on Search Labs here: https://goo.gle/SearchAIMode
Google has also posted on video of the tool on its official YouTube page, outlining features and user benefits from AI Mode in Search, calling it 'most powerful AI search' and 'built for your most complex questions'.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

"Soham Parekh 2.0?": Indian Woman In US Exposes Startup Scams By 2 "Desi" Founders
"Soham Parekh 2.0?": Indian Woman In US Exposes Startup Scams By 2 "Desi" Founders

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • NDTV

"Soham Parekh 2.0?": Indian Woman In US Exposes Startup Scams By 2 "Desi" Founders

A US-based Indian venture capitalist has stirred up a storm on social media after calling out fraudulent practices by two "desi" founders in San Francisco's startup ecosystem. Ash Arora, a LocalGlobe partner featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Europe Finance) list, alleged that she met two Indian founders who were inflating metrics and fabricating client associations. She claimed that while one founder was subletting a rented apartment and falsely projecting the rent income as startup revenue, the other claimed that Amazon and Google had signed Letters of Intent with his firm, despite the tech giants reportedly having no knowledge of such deals. "Have met two founders in SF this month. Both fraud: 1. Is subletting a rented apartment and showing that as revenue for his startup. 2. Is claiming Amazon and Google are clients who have signed LOIs when they have never even heard of them," Ash Arora wrote. "What's common among them? Both desi men Beware of these people!" she continued, adding, "4 VCs have pinged me correctly guessing both these founder names. Is this Soham Parekh 2.0? We need a BS radar community out here." 4 VCs have pinged me correctly guessing both these founder names Is this Soham Parekh 2.0? We need a BS radar community out here. — Ash Arora (@asharoraa) July 8, 2025 The post quickly caught the internet's attention, sparking mixed reactions. Several users accused Ms Arora of unfairly singling out her own community. "A sample of two. What's the point of including their race?" asked one user. "The 'desi men' part is a spicy take, but honestly, the patterns of fraud in SF are pretty universal. Desperation or greed, it always comes back to the same stuff," commented another. However, Ms Arora defended her mention of the founders' ethnicity, saying, "Absolutely shocked to see egos being hurt here. The ONLY reason I mentioned them being desi was to ensure other people (and investors) are able to guess who these people are without actually naming and shaming them. The intention was to ensure people are staying away from these founders. That's it." "As a desi myself, why in the world would I think lesser of my own community? It is dumb to think someone who is consistently proud of India, literally talks about successes every month and supports Indians in this world would ever want anything except progress for our ethnicity. Also, if we can't self criticize, who will? How will we ever fix something if we are too proud to acknowledge it? If a non Indian pointed out this 'jugaad' culture that is already present everywhere in our country, they would 100% be called racist in this woke environment. Didn't we cancel woke culture? Do better," she added. Others on social media expressed shock at the fraudulent practices. "I really don't understand. This way will never stay longer than few weeks or months. The end is dead. With life goal of genuinely making difference in whatever industry they are willing to do with perseverance is key to success. Shortcuts Never Works," wrote one user. "What's the point of doing this? If you're severely inflating your revenue, you're only hurting yourself. You'll never truly validate your idea, and you'll keep pouring time and effort into the wrong direction," commented another. Notably, Ms Arora's post comes days after Mixpanel founder Suhail Doshi publicly warned fellow entrepreneurs about software engineer Soham Parekh on X. Mr Doshi alleged that Parekh had worked at Mixpanel briefly before being fired and claimed that Parekh had been taking advantage of YC companies. Mr Doshi also shared Parekh's CV, questioning the authenticity of his portfolio, and arguing that probably 90% of the claims made in it are fake. Several other Silicon Valley founders, engineers, and hiring managers also accused Parekh of exploiting job opportunities for personal benefit

OpenAI Set to Launch AI-Powered Browser, Threatening Google Chrome's Market Stronghold
OpenAI Set to Launch AI-Powered Browser, Threatening Google Chrome's Market Stronghold

Hans India

time2 hours ago

  • Hans India

OpenAI Set to Launch AI-Powered Browser, Threatening Google Chrome's Market Stronghold

In a potential game-changer for the digital world, OpenAI is preparing to unveil its own AI-powered web browser—an innovation that could significantly challenge Google Chrome's dominance. As reported by Reuters, this new browser will incorporate ChatGPT-like capabilities, turning everyday browsing into a dynamic, AI-led experience. Sources close to the development say the browser may launch within weeks. OpenAI's goal is to shift internet usage from traditional, passive navigation toward an active, assistant-driven model. Imagine having an AI handle tasks like booking flights, filling out online forms, or even completing purchases—all within the browser. This shift could have major consequences for Google. Chrome plays a crucial role in Alphabet's $200 billion ad business, serving as a primary channel for collecting user data and driving traffic to Google Search, which is set as the default engine for most Chrome users. With over 3 billion users globally, Chrome helps power the algorithms that target ads with precision. Nearly 75% of Alphabet's revenue comes from advertising, much of it tied directly to this ecosystem. However, OpenAI's browser could reroute user behaviour. By integrating AI agents that perform tasks and provide information directly through a chat interface, users may no longer need to visit websites or conduct traditional searches—undermining Google's core business model. A key feature of the browser is its use of OpenAI's internal tools like Operator, which can take actions on the user's behalf. This includes making restaurant reservations, navigating web pages, and executing transactions, moving toward a future where the internet is experienced through proactive AI agents rather than clicks and searches. Although OpenAI is entering Google's territory, it's building this browser on Chromium, Google's own open-source browser engine. Chromium also powers Microsoft Edge and Opera. Interestingly, OpenAI has hired two former Google vice presidents who were instrumental in developing Chrome, underscoring the company's ambition to take on Google with experienced insiders. This move also comes at a delicate moment for Google. The tech giant is under pressure from U.S. regulators after a 2023 court ruling declared Alphabet held an unlawful monopoly in online search. The Department of Justice has even proposed a divestiture of Chrome. During recent legal proceedings, an OpenAI executive hinted at the company's interest in acquiring Chrome if that ever became a real possibility. OpenAI is not alone in the AI browser race. Competitors like Perplexity have launched Comet, while Brave and The Browser Company have also introduced smart browsing features powered by AI. Yet, OpenAI's 500 million weekly ChatGPT users give it a formidable advantage when it comes to rapid adoption. This browser launch is also part of a broader vision. OpenAI recently acquired io, an AI hardware company led by Apple's former design head, Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal—signaling its intention to build a seamless AI ecosystem across software and devices. As AI continues to blur the line between assistant and user, OpenAI's bold step into web browsing may mark the start of a new internet era—one that's interactive, intelligent, and possibly free from Google's long-standing grip.

OpenAI-Windsurf deal falls apart, Google poaches CEO Varun Mohan and licenses tech for Rs 20,600 Crore instead
OpenAI-Windsurf deal falls apart, Google poaches CEO Varun Mohan and licenses tech for Rs 20,600 Crore instead

India Today

time2 hours ago

  • India Today

OpenAI-Windsurf deal falls apart, Google poaches CEO Varun Mohan and licenses tech for Rs 20,600 Crore instead

In a plot twist that no one saw coming, OpenAI's headline-grabbing $3 billion deal to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf has officially sunk, and Google DeepMind has just ridden in on the The Verge broke the news that OpenAI's acquisition plans had collapsed, and within hours, Google had pulled off a bold recruitment coup. Windsurf's CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and a team of top researchers are now headed to DeepMind, Google's elite AI research division. A Google spokesperson to TechCrunch later confirmed the move. advertisementBut here's where it gets spicy: Google isn't buying Windsurf. Instead, it's agreed to pay $2.4 billion for a nonexclusive licence to some of the company's technology, meaning Windsurf remains independent and free to partner with others. While the startup's top brass are off to join the Google fold, the rest of the 250-person team is staying put and continuing to run the operation. Jeff Wang, formerly Windsurf's head of business, has stepped up as interim CEO. In a post on social media, he assured everyone that Windsurf's enterprise AI coding tools aren't going anywhere. The company will carry on, minus a few high-profile departures, and Google will have no stake or control in its operations. This isn't your average Big Tech takeover, it's the latest example of a clever manoeuvre known as a 'reverse acquihire.' Rather than buy the company outright (and invite regulators to poke around), tech giants like Google and Microsoft are increasingly opting to poach key talent and license the tech. It's faster, cleaner, and far less likely to end up on the front page of an antitrust has played this game before. Remember when it lured Noam Shazeer back into its orbit? Microsoft pulled the same trick with Mustafa Suleyman. It's all part of the escalating AI arms race, where brains and code are the most valuable meanwhile, is left with more than just a dent in its acquisition record. According to The Wall Street Journal, Windsurf's tech became a contentious issue in its partnership with Microsoft, which already has access to OpenAI's IP. The startup's decision to pivot away from OpenAI likely helped avoid further tension, but it handed a win to a key Friday, Fortune reported that the exclusivity period for OpenAI's offer had just ended. Clearly, Windsurf didn't waste time window shopping, by the afternoon, the Google DeepMind deal was already making waves. In the high-stakes world of AI, things move fast, and the real prize isn't just tech, it's the people behind it.- Ends

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store