**Google Expands and Simplifies Access to AI Mode on Mobile Chrome**
Google is making significant changes to the way users can access its AI-powered features on mobile devices, aiming to boost engagement and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence search tools. On Wednesday, Google announced that a new shortcut button for "AI Mode" will now appear directly under the search bar on the “New Tab” page in the Chrome browser for mobile devices. This update is initially rolling out to users in the United States, with plans to expand to 160 additional countries and support for more languages in the near future.
**What is AI Mode?**
AI Mode is a feature integrated within Google Search that allows users to ask complex questions and receive in-depth responses, mimicking the conversational and contextual capabilities seen in services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Perplexity AI. Not only can users ask follow-up questions, but they can also dig deeper into topics directly within the familiar Google Search interface. This makes it easier for people to explore topics in a more natural and interactive way without needing to switch to a separate app or service.
**Expansion and Language Support**
This latest move comes on the heels of a broader global expansion of AI Mode. Recently, Google made AI Mode available in 180 new countries, significantly broadening its reach. In addition to English, the service now supports a variety of other languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Brazilian Portuguese. This multilingual support is part of Google's strategy to make its AI offerings accessible to a much larger and more diverse user base worldwide.
**A Competitive Landscape**
By integrating a dedicated shortcut for AI Mode directly on the Chrome mobile “New Tab” page, Google is aiming to lower the barriers for users to try out and regularly use AI-powered search features. This move is also a clear response to the growing popularity of AI-driven search tools from competitors. Services like Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search have attracted users seeking richer, more interactive search experiences that go beyond traditional keyword-based results.
Google’s decision to make AI Mode more immediately accessible highlights the company's intent to keep users within its own ecosystem. By offering advanced AI capabilities right where users already perform most of their searches, Google reduces the incentive for people to seek out alternative AI platforms.
**Continuous Updates and New Features**
Since its initial launch in March, Google has been steadily enhancing AI Mode with new functionalities. One of the most significant recent updates, introduced just yesterday, is the addition of "agentic capabilities." These new features enable users to get assistance with practical tasks such as booking event tickets and making appointments for beauty and wellness services—all within AI Mode. This builds on earlier updates from August, when Google first allowed users to find and make restaurant reservations using AI Mode.
Another noteworthy addition is the Canvas feature, launched in July. Canvas helps users build study plans and organize information across multiple sessions, all accessible via a side panel. This is particularly useful for