There’s a big shift happening in how we all look up information online. Not too long ago, “Googling” was the default way of finding answers. But now, a lot of people are starting to just chat with an AI, like ChatGPT or Perplexity, instead of searching the web the old way. I see Google’s new AI Mode as a direct response to this change. More than a quarter of people in the US, 27%, now use AI tools instead of traditional search engines, and Google’s search share has dipped below 90% for the first time in years, so this move is very important to them.

The whole idea behind AI Mode is to make search feel more like a conversation. Instead of just giving you a bunch of links, Google’s aiming to give you real, detailed answers, kind of like what you get from ChatGPT or Perplexity. You can ask complicated questions, follow up with more questions, and actually get a synthesized answer, not just a list of websites.

By adding AI Mode directly into Search, Google is hoping to win back the 27% of users who have started drifting to other platforms. It’s a smart move, most people already use Google, so bringing this new AI experience right into the main product makes it easy for everyone to try it out.

Looking ahead, I think this is just the beginning. Google wants to make sure Search stays relevant, and AI Mode is their way of showing they’re not just keeping up, they’re trying to lead the way. It’s all about making search smarter, more helpful, and more conversational. The competition is heating up, and Google’s making it clear they’re still in the game.

What’s really striking is that with this shift, companies really need to start thinking about how their products show up in these new AI powered answers. To make sure your product is included, focus on having complete, accurate, and detailed product data, use conversational keywords, and add structured data like schema markup so AI can easily understand and recommend your products in relevant searches. I’ll post more on this later.