Google is testing to combine AI Overviews with AI Mode

OpenAI has entered what some insiders call “Code Red.” Competitive pressures are mounting as rivals push ahead with new AI experiences. In this context, Google has announced a major test. The company is exploring a way to merge AI Overviews with AI Mode in Google Search.

The update will allow users to start with the now-familiar AI-generated snapshot of key information. Then, they can seamlessly dive deeper by asking follow-up questions in a conversational interface. This interface is powered by Google’s Gemini AI, giving users a back-and-forth experience similar to ChatGPT. Trending topics include conversational AI, Google Gemini updates, AI in search, and enterprise and consumer AI UX.

What is AI Mode?

Google calls this conversational interface AI Mode. It first launched in the U.S. in May and went global in August. It enables real-time interaction with Gemini AI. Users can ask complex or multi-step questions. They get answers in a conversational format instead of just static search results. This mirrors the trend of interactive AI experiences emerging across search engines, chatbots, and productivity tools.

Until now, accessing AI Mode required planning. If your search query was simple or you expected a quick answer, you used the traditional search box. But if you wanted to explore a topic in depth, you had to navigate to the AI Mode tab. This extra step created a separation between quick search queries and deep conversational exploration. Google’s new test aims to remove that gap.

Read More: Google Expands AI Mode in Search to More Languages and Countries

Why Merge AI Overviews and AI Mode?

Information-seeking is rarely linear. You may start with a simple search and then realize you want more context or detail. Google wants to make that transition seamless. The merged experience allows users to go deeper directly from the search results page, without switching tabs.

Currently, the test is available globally, but only on mobile devices. Google is prioritizing mobile because most users access Search through smartphones. This move aligns with trends in mobile-first AI search and on-the-go conversational AI adoption.

Read More: How to Get Traffic When AI Overviews Answers Everything

Google vs OpenAI: The Competitive Context

The rollout also comes as OpenAI refocuses on improving its core chat experience. The company is delaying other product launches to strengthen ChatGPT’s conversational capabilities. Meanwhile, Gemini AI continues to grow. With the recent release of Gemini’s Nano Banana image model and other upgrades, Gemini now boasts over 650 million monthly active users as of November.

AI Overviews, which provide concise AI-generated summaries above search results, reach 2 billion monthly users. Merging these two features could give Gemini a substantial advantage in consumer adoption. It positions Google as a leader in AI-augmented search experiences, combining high-volume information access with in-depth conversational interaction.

How the Merged Experience Works

Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, explained the idea on X. He said users shouldn’t have to think about where or how to ask questions. The AI Overview still serves as a starting point. But from the same screen, users can now ask follow-up questions in AI Mode.

This approach lets users explore topics in layers. You can start with a short answer and then expand into multi-step reasoning, complex instructions, or related queries. It supports long-tail questions, multi-part research, and exploratory learning. This aligns with the rise of conversational AI in research and productivity workflows, where users expect a single interface for discovery and detailed inquiry.

Why This Matters for Search

The merged experience reflects Google’s vision for search. Stein said it allows people to ask anything, no matter how complex, and get exactly what they need. It merges speed and depth. Users get a snapshot overview first. Then they can transition naturally into interactive AI conversations.

This approach strengthens Google’s position against competitors. OpenAI, Microsoft, and other AI companies are racing to capture attention in search-adjacent spaces. By integrating AI Overviews and AI Mode, Google enhances user engagement, keeps people on its platform longer, and expands the AI-powered search ecosystem.

Read More: How to Adapt Your SEO Strategy for AI-Powered Search in 2025

Additional Context and Trends

Merging AI Overviews and AI Mode also taps into broader trends:

• Conversational AI adoption: Users increasingly prefer AI that responds naturally and supports back-and-forth interactions.

• Integrated AI experiences: The line between search, chat, and generative AI tools is blurring. Google’s experiment tests whether unifying these interfaces improves usability.

• Mobile-first AI: With billions of searches conducted on smartphones, mobile integration is key.

• User retention and engagement: Keeping users engaged in one seamless interface strengthens Google’s market dominance.

• AI democratization: By combining summaries and conversations, Google makes advanced AI insights more accessible to the average user.

Stein concluded that this merged experience brings Google closer to its ultimate goal: a search engine where you can ask anything, get structured AI assistance, and dive as deep as needed—all without leaving the page.