Chrome Streamlines Access to AI-Powered Mode Via New Tab Shortcut
Google has taken a significant step in enhancing the browsing experience for its users by introducing AI Mode to the New Tab Page on desktop Chrome. This new feature brings advanced AI-powered search capabilities directly into the browser experience.
The AI Mode shortcut is easily accessible, located next to the voice input microphone and Google Lens icons. Clicking on it opens a specialized AI search interface at google.com/aimode, where users can enter prompts, switch between AI models like the Gemini 2.5 Pro, and use advanced features such as Deep Search if subscribed to AI Pro/Ultra services.
Functionally, AI Mode transforms the traditional Google search into a chatbot-like experience powered by a custom Gemini generative AI model. It uses a "query fan-out" technique, which concurrently breaks down search questions into multiple subqueries across various sources to generate more comprehensive and conversational responses.
The integration of AI Mode in Chrome’s New Tab Page aims to increase user awareness and adoption of Google's AI search features. Given Chrome’s dominant market share, this feature helps keep users engaged with Google's ecosystem, providing a more interactive, AI-driven alternative to conventional search and competing AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity.
The AI Mode shortcut appears as a pill-shaped button with a gray background and a sparkle magnifying glass icon in black. On ChromeOS, the shortcut on initial page load displays a four-color animation around the button. For users in the US, the feature is available with Chrome 138 for Mac and Chromebooks.
For AI Pro/Ultra subscribers, the google.com/aimode interface allows switching models and using Deep Search. The feature currently has 100 million monthly active users. Additionally, Circle to Search is also adding AI Mode to its Android app.
In summary, Google's AI Mode in desktop Chrome's New Tab Page provides fast, AI-enhanced conversational search, increasing accessibility and usage of Google's AI capabilities. It offers prompt input, AI model switching, advanced search features, and delivers conversational, multi-source synthesized responses using "query fan-out." This feature is part of Google's broader strategy to embed generative AI throughout its products.
- Users can conveniently access the AI Mode shortcut, which is placed next to the voice input microphone and Google Lens icons, offering the opportunity to engage with advanced AI-powered search options, such as smartphones and gadgets.
- With AI Mode, Google's New Tab Page improves the browsing experience by integrating revolutionary technology, providing an interactive, AI-driven alternative to conventional search, similar to competing AI tools like smartphones and other gadgets equipped with advanced AI capabilities.
