How Google's AI mode works as new feature set to hit UK browsers this week
Google is the web browser that many of us rely on when we are wanting to look up new information or find the best activities to take part in while travelling abroad. While the popular web browser can collate an endless variety of information in a matter of seconds, an upcoming update is set to make this experience even smoother.
Set to launch in the UK this week, Google's smart AI mode has been created to make browsing the web a more fluid and faster experience. For those who struggle to find the answers to complicated questions, this new feature will become your saving grace.
First launched in the US back in May, the new AI mode will allow web users to find detailed answers to all of their queries no matter how complicated, unlike the current AI overview service, reports the Express. Most of the UK is expected to have access to this handy feature by the end of the week.
So what differentiates this new sparkly AI mode in comparison to the AI overview feature that many people in the UK have now become acquainted with?
The main point of the new feature is to provide answers to more detailed and conversational questions. Therefore, web users can be more specific about what they are looking for instead of supplying a broad question.
For example, instead of writing "What to do in Glasgow?", web browsers can instead write "Things to do in Glasgow this weekend with friends. We are big music lovers, love exploring the wilderness and enjoy a variety of food."
With this more detailed question, Google will collate a full query search that will include a detailed overview, links to websites and location maps so travellers can easily plan their next trip.
And if you end up having another question, Google users can easily add another search to the question instead of having to start a whole new conversation.
While a useful feature for any queries you have, Google says that this new service will flourish when asked exploratory questions or given complicated tasks. For those wanting to plan a trip, get a further understanding of a confusing 'how-to' or compare two tech products, the AI mode should provide a helpful solution.
Google explained: "We've found that early users of AI Mode are asking questions that are two or three times the length of traditional search queries."
UK Google users will be able to identify when they have access to the new feature as an AI Mode box will appear in your browser window. From here you can easily ask Google questions through your voice, text or camera.
Vice president of product management at Google, Hema Budaraju said: "Starting this week, we are excited to bring AI Mode to the UK. AI Mode expands on what AI overviews can do; it has got more advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities from Gemini 2.5.
"You can ask nuanced questions, things that would have taken multiple, multiple, multiple searches before, can actually be one prompt."
While some people may be a bit wary of this new feature as rival companies have experienced issues with AI providing the wrong information, Google is confident that this won't become an issue.
Bubaraju said: "I think for us it's really important to keep the bar quality of Google search. We have 25 years of experience in building stronger ranking systems, strong quality systems, as well as safety systems.
"We do extensive internal testing to find challenges ourselves. And all of that is learning that goes into building up these features and these new technologies.
"And as with any early-stage AI product, we won't always get it right, but we are committed to continuous improvement."
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