Google expands AI Mode to over 40 countries and territories

On October 7, 2025, Google announced a major international expansion of AI Mode in Search, bringing the feature to users in more than 35 new languages and over 40 additional countries and territories. According to Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management for Search, AI Mode now operates in over 200 countries and territories total, including numerous locations across Europe. The rollout represents the most extensive geographical expansion since the feature's initial launch in March 2025.

AI Mode marks Google's most advanced search experience. The system enables users to ask complex questions using text, voice, or images while receiving comprehensive responses powered by artificial intelligence. The feature expands what AI Overviews can accomplish, incorporating more sophisticated reasoning capabilities and diverse interaction methods through its custom Gemini model architecture.

The technical infrastructure behind AI Mode employs what Google terms "query fan-out technique." This methodology divides user questions into subtopics and searches for each component simultaneously across multiple data sources. The approach enables the platform to explore web content more thoroughly and identify relevant material that matches complex queries requiring synthesis from numerous sources.

According to the announcement, Google's latest Gemini models power dramatically enhanced capabilities within Search. These models utilize natural language understanding and multimodal capabilities, allowing users to formulate queries in ways that feel natural to them. The advanced reasoning and multimodal understanding of the custom Gemini model designed specifically for Search enables AI Mode to comprehend the subtleties of local languages.

The expansion brings AI Mode to regions across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the Americas, new availability includes countries ranging from Antigua and Barbuda to Venezuela. The Asia-Pacific rollout encompasses territories from Afghanistan to Vietnam, including major markets like Australia, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. European expansion reaches from Albania to Vatican City, covering both European Union member states and neighboring territories.

User behavior data reveals significant differences in how people interact with AI Mode compared to traditional search interfaces. According to the announcement, users are "diving deeper into complex topics and asking questions nearly three times longer than traditional searches." The extended query length reflects the conversational nature of AI Mode, which accommodates multi-part questions that previously would have required multiple separate searches.

The system relies on Google Search's comprehensive understanding of web information. Responses generated through AI Mode draw from high-quality web content to improve factuality. In situations where the system lacks sufficient confidence in response quality or helpfulness, AI Mode provides a set of web links rather than generating an AI-powered answer. This design acknowledges limitations inherent in early-stage AI products that don't always produce accurate results.

Google emphasizes the importance of user feedback for continuous improvement. When AI Mode generates inaccurate or unhelpful responses, the company encourages users to provide feedback through thumbs up and thumbs down mechanisms. This feedback loop contributes to ongoing refinement of the system's capabilities and accuracy.

The announcement confirms that the experience will roll out to additional users over the following week after October 7. This gradual deployment approach allows Google to monitor system performance and user response patterns as AI Mode reaches new markets and language communities.

Technical documentation indicates that AI Mode is available in specific ways depending on user location and device. Users can access the feature through google.com/ai, through a dedicated button in the Google Search bar on www.google.com, or through an AI Mode button on the Google app's home screen. The feature requires users to be signed in to their Google accounts and be 18 years or older.

For enhanced personalization capabilities, users must enable Web & App Activity settings. Without this setting activated, AI Mode remains accessible but cannot reference previous searches or provide personalized suggestions based on past interactions. Workspace users with Search and Assistant disabled face additional restrictions, as Search history becomes unavailable unless administrators enable these settings through the Admin console.

The custom Gemini model developed for Search incorporates advanced reasoning and multimodal understanding capabilities. According to the announcement, these technological enhancements allow AI Mode to grasp subtleties of local languages effectively. The system aims to ensure genuine helpfulness and relevance across all newly introduced languages, rather than simply translating English-language results.

Language support extends beyond simple translation. The custom model processes local language nuances, cultural context, and region-specific information needs. This localization approach addresses diverse global search patterns by incorporating regional preferences and locally relevant information sources into AI-generated responses.

Multimodal input capabilities represent a significant feature of AI Mode. Users can submit questions using text, voice commands, or image uploads. The system processes these different input types while maintaining conversational context across follow-up interactions. For image-based queries, users can upload files through click actions or utilize drag-and-drop functionality on desktop devices.

The October 7 expansion positions AI Mode as a central element in Google's broader strategy for artificial intelligence integration into search. The feature has undergone multiple geographical rollouts throughout 2025. Following the initial United States launch in March 2025, Google extended AI Mode to India in June, the United Kingdom in July, and subsequently to additional Asian and European markets in August and September.

Google's systematic global deployment gained momentum when the company added Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese language support on September 8, 2025. That expansion emphasized localized artificial intelligence rather than direct translation services, requiring nuanced understanding of local information rather than simple language conversion.

The marketing and publishing communities continue monitoring AI Mode's impact on web traffic and content discovery. Analysis from previous AI Mode deployments indicates shifting user behavior patterns. Research published earlier this year shows that AI search visitors demonstrate 4.4 times higher conversion value compared to traditional organic search visitors, though overall traffic volumes may decline as users receive answers directly from AI-generated summaries.

Google faced mounting scrutiny from publishers who reported traffic decreases following AI Overview implementations in various markets. Independent publishers filed formal antitrust complaints with the European Commission on June 30, 2025, alleging that Google's AI-powered search features caused "significant harm to publishers, including news publishers in the form of traffic, readership and revenue loss."

The October expansion introduces AI Mode to markets where regulatory discussions about artificial intelligence in search remain active. European Union territories included in the rollout continue navigating digital competition regulations, including the Digital Markets Act. The timing of this launch occurs months after AI Overviews, a related but distinct feature, began appearing in European search results.

AI Mode differs from AI Overviews in several technical aspects. While AI Overviews provide concise summaries at the top of search results for specific queries, AI Mode offers a dedicated conversational interface designed for extended multi-turn interactions. The query fan-out technique employed by AI Mode enables simultaneous processing of multiple subtopic searches, a more complex operation than the single-query summarization used in AI Overviews.

Technical specifications require enrollment in the "AI Mode" experiment through Search Labs for access to advanced capabilities. Users who opt into this experimental program gain access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google's most sophisticated model for complex reasoning, mathematics, and coding questions. The enhanced model excels at advanced analytical tasks while providing links for additional learning.

Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers receive access to premium AI Mode features. These subscription tiers enable use of the Gemini 2.5 Pro model through a dropdown menu selection within the AI Mode interface, while the default model continues providing fast, all-around assistance for general questions. Deep Search functionality, available exclusively to subscribers, conducts "hundreds of searches, reasoning across disparate pieces of information and crafting a comprehensive, fully-cited report in minutes."

The system maintains conversation history through AI Mode history features, allowing users to resume previous searches and access past interactions. This continuity depends on Web & App Activity settings remaining enabled. Users can delete AI Mode history through account controls, though deleted searches may remain visible in broader activity logs for up to 24 hours before automatic deletion.

Privacy considerations inform how Google develops and improves generative AI experiences in Search. The company uses people's interactions with Search and AI experiences, including search queries and user feedback, to refine machine learning models. Trained reviewers evaluate response quality while working with data disconnected from user accounts, with automated tools recognizing and removing identifying information and sensitive personal details.

Response quality assessment incorporates both automated systems and human evaluation. When AI Mode generates responses, the system evaluates confidence levels before displaying content to users. Lower confidence scores result in presentations of web link collections rather than AI-generated text, maintaining information quality standards while acknowledging current technological limitations.

The expansion strategy reflects competitive pressures in the artificial intelligence search market. Google's announcements throughout 2025 indicated that AI Mode may eventually become the default search experience. Logan Kilpatrick, Group Product Manager at Google DeepMind, signaled on September 6, 2025, that AI Mode would become the default "soon," though Google executives later clarified that the feature would remain optional while the company focused on "making it easy to access AI Mode for those who want it."

Industry observers note that AI Mode adoption patterns vary significantly across different user demographics and query types. Earlier testing phases showed that Google experimented with interface placements, including positioning an AI Mode button directly within the homepage search bar for users enrolled in Search Labs. The button featured a magnifying glass sparkle icon in a pill-shaped container, providing immediate access to AI-powered search capabilities.

The October 7 rollout coincides with broader developments in Google's AI-enhanced search offerings. The company has introduced Canvas functionality for study planning, Search Live with video input for real-time visual analysis, and enhanced Chrome desktop integration through Google Lens. These developments demonstrate systematic efforts to embed artificial intelligence throughout the search experience rather than treating AI Mode as an isolated feature.

Content discovery mechanisms within AI Mode maintain emphasis on directing users to original web sources. According to the announcement and supporting documentation, AI-generated responses include prominent links to source materials. This design addresses concerns from content creators and publishers about traffic distribution in AI-powered search environments, though debates continue about whether link prominence adequately compensates for reduced direct website visits.

The global expansion brings AI Mode to developing markets where smartphone penetration drives internet access. Regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America included in the October 7 rollout represent significant user populations accessing Google Search primarily through mobile devices. The multimodal capabilities of AI Mode, particularly voice input functionality, address accessibility considerations for users in markets where text-based search may present barriers.

Language availability now encompasses major global languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and numerous others. The expansion extends to regional languages and smaller linguistic communities, reflecting Google's stated commitment to making "truly global Search" accessible in users' preferred languages rather than requiring English proficiency.

Implementation details specify that AI Mode processes queries through distributed computing infrastructure. The query fan-out technique requires substantial computational resources, as the system simultaneously generates and processes multiple related searches for each user question. This technical approach necessitates the extensive capital expenditures Google has committed to artificial intelligence infrastructure development.

User interface elements vary slightly across different access points. The web-based interface at google.com/ai presents AI Mode through a dedicated page with conversation history accessible through a side panel. Mobile applications on Android and iOS platforms integrate AI Mode through home screen buttons, while web search results pages display AI Mode as an optional tab alongside traditional search views.

The gradual rollout strategy allows Google to manage technical scaling challenges as AI Mode reaches hundreds of millions of additional users. Server capacity, response time optimization, and quality assurance mechanisms require careful monitoring during international expansions. The company's announcement that the experience will reach more users "over the next week" suggests staged deployment across different geographic regions and language communities.

Marketing professionals face adjustments as AI Mode availability expands globally. Previous research from US deployments reveals that users scrolling through AI-generated content typically engage with only the top third of responses, with median scroll depth reaching approximately 30 percent. This user behavior pattern influences visibility strategies for content creators seeking to appear within AI Mode results.

Traffic analysis from earlier AI Mode markets shows mixed impacts on website visits. While some studies indicated traffic reductions ranging from 15 to 67 percent for specific query types, Google executives maintained that organic click volumes remain "relatively stable year over year" when examined across broader timeframes and query categories. The company argued that clicks originating from AI-enhanced search results demonstrate higher quality, with users spending more time on destination sites.

Technical documentation warns that AI Mode, like any early-stage AI product, "doesn't always get it right." The system may misinterpret web content or miss context, similar to challenges faced by automated systems generally. Google recommends that users verify important information across multiple sources, clicking through to original articles and reviewing traditional search results to confirm accuracy.

Search behavior studies conducted during initial AI Mode deployments documented that query length increased substantially compared to traditional search inputs. Users formulating questions for AI Mode typically compose statements measuring two to three times longer than conventional keyword-based searches. This shift toward natural language queries reflects user adaptation to conversational interfaces that can process complex, multi-part questions.

The October 7 expansion represents a continuation of Google's efforts to establish AI Mode as a mainstream search option rather than an experimental feature. The removal of geographical restrictions and addition of dozens of languages suggests confidence in the system's stability and readiness for global deployment, despite ongoing refinements and acknowledged limitations in response accuracy.

Content sourcing mechanisms within AI Mode prioritize authoritative and relevant web sources. The system evaluates source reliability, content freshness, and topical expertise when selecting materials to incorporate into AI-generated responses. Research analyzing AI Overview link patterns found that approximately 96 percent of links originated from top 10 organic search results, indicating strong correlation between traditional ranking factors and AI content selection.

The expansion timing occurs during a period of significant change in the search industry. Visual search queries grew 65 percent year-over-year according to data from July 2025, indicating substantial adoption of image-based search methods. Google's multimodal AI Mode capabilities address this trend by enabling users to upload images, take photos, or provide voice input as alternatives to text-based queries.

The October 7 announcement from Hema Budaraju emphasized that the rollout brings AI Mode to "many across Europe," though specific European countries included in this expansion wave were not enumerated in the announcement. The European deployment follows separate rollouts that brought AI Mode to the United Kingdom in July 2025 and incorporated it into broader European search experiences throughout summer and fall 2025.

Language localization extends beyond interface translation to encompass culturally appropriate responses and region-specific information. The custom Gemini model processes queries within local context, drawing from regionally relevant sources and addressing information needs specific to different geographic markets. This localization approach aims to ensure that AI Mode provides genuinely helpful responses rather than generic information adapted from English-language sources.

Future developments for AI Mode remain subject to ongoing experimentation through Search Labs. Google continues refining the user interface, expanding functionality, and introducing new interaction methods. The company's statement about continuing to "refine AI Mode, expand its functionality, update the user interface and introduce new ways to help people access and engage with the web" indicates that current capabilities represent an evolving baseline rather than a final implementation.

Timeline

• March 2025: Google launches AI Mode through Search Labs experimental program in United States
• May 1, 2025: AI Mode becomes available to all United States users, eliminating waitlist restrictions
• June 11, 2025: Google tests AI Mode button directly in homepage search bar for Search Labs users
• June 24, 2025: AI Mode launches in India with multimodal search capabilities
• July 2, 2025: Google extends AI Mode to Workspace accounts across United States
• July 9, 2025: Circle to Search gains AI Mode integration across 300 million Android devices
• July 16, 2025: Google introduces Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Search capabilities to AI Mode subscribers
• July 28, 2025: AI Mode arrives in United Kingdom as second major international expansion
• July 29, 2025: Search Live with video input and Canvas functionality launch in AI Mode
• September 6, 2025: Google product manager signals AI Mode may become default search experience
• September 8, 2025: Google expands AI Mode to five new languages globally: Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese
• September 30, 2025: Visual search capabilities launch in AI Mode for conversational image exploration
• October 7, 2025: Google announces AI Mode expansion to more than 35 new languages and over 40 new countries and territories, reaching over 200 total locations

Summary

Who: Google announced the expansion through Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management for Search, bringing AI Mode to users in over 200 countries and territories globally.

What: AI Mode expanded to more than 35 new languages and over 40 additional countries and territories, providing users with conversational AI-powered search capabilities that process complex queries through text, voice, and image inputs using Google's custom Gemini model.

When: The announcement occurred on October 7, 2025, with the experience rolling out to additional users over the following week.

Where: The expansion reaches regions across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, bringing total AI Mode availability to over 200 countries and territories including numerous European locations.

Why: The expansion reflects Google's strategy to make AI-powered search capabilities globally accessible in users' preferred languages, leveraging advanced reasoning and multimodal understanding to address complex, multi-part questions that traditional search interfaces handle less effectively, while users demonstrate engagement patterns showing queries nearly three times longer than traditional searches.