Google Search Evolves with 'Live AI Mode', Offering Real-Time Conversational Search

MOUNTAIN VIEW – Google has officially launched 'Search Live', a new, voice-activated conversational feature within its mobile app that aims to transform how users interact with its search engine. Unveiled on June 18, 2025, and currently available to users in the United States who have opted into the 'AI Mode' experiment in Google Labs, this feature allows for a continuous, spoken dialogue with Google Search, powered by a custom version of its Gemini AI model. Accessible via a new 'Live' icon in the Google app for Android and iOS, the feature allows users to verbally ask complex questions and receive helpful, AI-generated audio responses. Unlike traditional voice commands, the conversation remains active, enabling users to ask natural, free-flowing follow-up questions without needing to repeat context or restart the search process. For example, a user could ask for packing tips for a beach vacation and then follow up with 'What about for a carry-on?' or 'How can I prevent my clothes from wrinkling?' The system is designed to handle this conversational style, providing relevant answers while also displaying related web links on the screen for deeper exploration. A key aspect of Search Live is its ability to operate in the background. This allows users to multitask, continuing their spoken conversation with Google Search while using other applications on their phone. A transcript button is also available, allowing users to view the text of the conversation and switch to typing questions if they prefer. This functionality is aimed at making search more accessible and convenient for users who are on the go, driving, or otherwise unable to interact with a screen. Behind the scenes, Google is leveraging its decades of experience in search infrastructure combined with the advanced voice capabilities of its Gemini model. The company has stated that Search Live utilizes a 'query fan-out technique' to present a diverse set of web content, though this has raised some concerns among publishers about a potential reduction in click-through traffic, as the AI may provide a comprehensive answer directly. Looking ahead, Google plans to integrate its visual search capabilities, powered by Google Lens, into Search Live. This will allow users to use their phone's camera during a live conversation, showing the AI real-world objects and asking questions about them. A demonstration at the recent Google I/O conference showed a user pointing their camera at a complex math problem and receiving a step-by-step solution and explanation from the AI. The launch of Search Live represents a significant step in Google's vision for the future of search, moving beyond a simple list of blue links towards a more intuitive, multi-modal, and AI-native experience.