Google has initiated testing for a new feature designed to integrate its AI Overviews with AI Mode within its Search platform. This development allows users to engage in conversational follow-up questions directly from the initial search results page on mobile devices globally, according to a recent announcement.
The new functionality aims to streamline the user experience, enabling a seamless transition from an initial AI-generated snapshot of information (AI Overview) to an interactive, chat-based dialogue powered by Google's Gemini AI. Previously, users were required to navigate to a separate AI Mode tab to initiate conversational queries.
Robby Stein, Google's VP of Product for Search, stated in a post on X that the objective is for users "not to have to think about where or how to ask your question." He added that the feature brings Google "closer to our vision for Search: just ask whatever’s on your mind – no matter how long or complex – and find exactly what you need."
Google's AI Mode, which offers a back-and-forth chat experience similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, was launched to U.S. users in May 2025 and expanded globally in August 2025. The current test, while global in scope, is exclusively available on mobile platforms.
This rollout occurs as competition in the generative AI sector intensifies. Reports indicate that OpenAI has declared a "Code Red" internally, prioritizing improvements to its ChatGPT experience amid growing market pressures. Google's Gemini AI has reached over 650 million monthly users as of November, partly attributed to enhancements like the Gemini Nano Banana image model.
AI Overviews, a foundational component of Google Search's AI integration, currently serve 2 billion monthly users. The company anticipates that merging the conversational AI Mode with the widely adopted AI Overviews could significantly enhance Gemini's overall consumer adoption and competitive positioning within the AI landscape.
