Elizabeth Reid, Vice President of Search at Google, announced on May 19 at Google I/O 2026 that just one year after its launch, AI Mode now boasts over 1 billion monthly active users. The volume of queries processed through AI Mode more than doubles each quarter, with last quarter marking a record high in total search activity. Starting today, Gemini 3.5 Flash serves as the default model for AI Mode worldwide.
In terms of functionality, Google has rolled out the biggest redesign of its search bar in 25 years: the updated search bar can expand dynamically, offers AI-driven question suggestions (going beyond conventional autocomplete), and accepts inputs in the form of text, images, files, videos, and even Chrome tabs. Users can directly ask follow-up questions from AI Overview cards and seamlessly switch to AI Mode to continue conversations while retaining full context. All these features are now available in every country and language where AI Mode operates.
Regarding agents, Google introduced the ‘Information Agent’—a tool capable of continuously monitoring websites, blogs, social media, and real-time data related to finance, shopping, and sports. It proactively sends comprehensive notifications whenever predefined conditions are met; this is ideal for tracking property listings, athlete updates, or the release of limited-edition products. This feature will debut this summer exclusively for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Additionally, Google has integrated its Antigravity agent-based coding capabilities into search, enabling instant creation of customized interactive visual interfaces such as simulators and charts, as well as personalized trackers or mini-apps. Basic visualization functions will be freely accessible to all users this summer, while custom mini-apps will initially be offered to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Finally, Personal Intelligence—which leverages personal data from Gmail, Google Photos, and other services to enhance search results—is now available in nearly 200 countries and regions across 98 languages, with no subscription required.