If you visited Google on Tuesday, you might have spotted something different — rather than its typical cultural or historical Doodle, the tech giant featured an animated promotion for AI Mode, its new AI-powered search tool. This unexpected switch is meant to highlight AI Mode, Google’s Gemini-based chatbot that handles complex questions in a conversational way.
AI Mode Explained: What It Is and How It Works
Google’s AI Mode isn’t entirely new — it initially launched in March 2025, appearing next to standard search results in certain countries. However, this marks its most prominent rollout to date.
Backed by Gemini, Google’s most advanced large language model, AI Mode enables users to:
- Ask complex or multi-step questions
- Receive detailed, AI-generated answers
- Engage through text, voice, or image uploads
The goal is to help users save time by merging multiple queries into one comprehensive, conversational response.
Google’s Major AI Drive Comes as Competition Heats Up
Using the homepage for this kind of promotion — usually dedicated to commemorative tributes — shows just how committed Google is to driving AI adoption. A spokesperson explained that this wasn’t a typical Doodle, but rather “a fun promo” to boost awareness.
Google has previously tested putting AI Mode in prominent spots on its homepage. Back in May, it even temporarily replaced the iconic “I’m Feeling Lucky” button with an AI Mode shortcut, signaling its push to influence how users interact with search.
This latest step seems to be part of Google’s wider strategy to stay competitive against emerging AI rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Perplexity AI.
Search Is Changing: Google Wants You to Keep Up
Through this bold homepage takeover, Google isn’t simply promoting a feature — it’s encouraging billions of users to embrace a new way of searching. As AI becomes a core part of the online experience, AI Mode represents Google’s vision for the future: smarter, more intuitive, and driven by its powerful Gemini model.
