Google Unveils AI Mode At I/O Conference
At its annual I/O conference, Google announced a sweeping overhaul of its search engine, adding an “AI Mode” that replaces traditional link-based results with chat-style answers. Available to all U.S. users starting this week, the feature is part of a broader strategy to keep pace with rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. CEO Sundar Pichai called it a “total reimagining of search,” allowing people to ask more complex questions and receive personalized, context-aware answers through its Gemini chatbot.
To support advanced users and fund the costly AI development, Google also rolled out a new $249.99 monthly “Ultra” subscription. The plan includes access to high-end tools like Project Mariner, which can navigate websites and perform tasks for users, plus a more powerful version of Gemini. Pichai said the company is focused on delivering “the best models at the most effective price point,” as it shifts away from a purely ad-based model.
Google also teased its return to smart glasses with new prototypes built in partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The glasses, powered by Android XR, can translate conversations in real time and answer questions about the world around you. Meanwhile, a revamped Project Astra showed how a smartphone camera or smart glasses could interact with the AI in real time—offering help like fixing a bike or ordering parts on the fly.
