Google introduced AI Mode that replaces traditional search ranking with Gemini-powered chat, initially previewed in March and rolled out to general users in May. The mode turns the search page into a chat interface where Gemini provides synthesized answers and cited results. Google added an agent capability that currently only helps users find restaurant reservations. Many AI Mode personalization inputs—prior AI conversations, searches, selected links, and Maps data—inform tailored results and inferred dining preferences and constraints. Those personalization and customization features do not carry over to the new restaurant reservation agent, which remains narrowly functional and available only to paying users.
AI Mode for search, which essentially allows Gemini to serve as the sifter of SERPs instead of the old-fashioned Google algorithm, became an opt-in preview feature in March before rolling out as an option to general Google users in May. For those who haven't deigned to use it, AI Mode basically turns the Google search page into a chat window where users can ask typical queries and get results delivered from a Gemini-powered chatbot that one has to assume isn't bullshitting them,
According to Google, the AI Mode agent can currently do one thing: help users find restaurant reservations. And while Google's news of the AI Mode agent released on Thursday makes it seem like there's a high degree of customization in what it can do, that's sadly not the case - there's lots of new data accessible to Gemini in AI mode, but those customization features don't carry over to the new AI agent.
Every AI Mode user who has opted into the experiment will begin to see highly-tailored results in AI mode, Google explained in its press release. Google takes a whole slew of personal data, like previous AI conversations, searches, or links selected in Search or Maps, and infers a preference for a particular food and indoor or outdoor seating. If a user tells AI Mode that they only have an hour and need a quick meal, that will be accounted for too, said Google.
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