Google launches AI Mode in India with multimodal search capabilities
Advanced reasoning and visual search features arrive as experimental Labs feature following global expansion strategy.
Google introduced its most advanced AI search experience to India on June 24, 2025, marking a significant expansion of the AI Mode feature beyond its initial United States launch. The announcement from Vice President of Product Management Hema Budaraju brings voice, image, and text-based search capabilities to Indian users through an experimental Labs program in English.
AI Mode employs a custom version of Gemini 2.5 that processes queries 2-3 times longer than traditional searches. According to Google's documentation, early testers are asking substantially more complex questions that would have previously required multiple separate searches. The system utilizes query fan-out technique, which breaks questions into subtopics and issues multiple simultaneous queries to provide comprehensive responses.
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Summary
Who: Google, led by Vice President of Product Management Hema Budaraju, launched AI Mode for Indian users. The feature targets India's distinctive user base, which represents the largest global population of Google Lens users monthly.
What: AI Mode is Google's most advanced AI search experience, featuring multimodal capabilities including voice, image, and text-based queries. The system uses a custom version of Gemini 2.5 with query fan-out technique to process complex questions that are 2-3 times longer than traditional searches.
When: The announcement was made on June 24, 2025, bringing AI Mode to India several months after its initial United States launch in March 2025 and broader US rollout in May 2025.
Where: The feature launches in India as an experimental program in Labs, available in English through the Google App for Android and iOS. The deployment follows Google's systematic global expansion strategy after successful implementation in the United States.
Why: Google responds to India's high usage of visual and voice search capabilities while expanding its AI-powered search ecosystem globally. The launch addresses competitive pressures from other AI tools and supports Google's long-term vision for search transformation, backed by $75 billion in AI infrastructure investments for 2025.
The technology integrates Google's Knowledge Graph, real-time information systems, and shopping data for billions of products. This multimodal approach allows users to search using text, voice commands, or image uploads through the Google App for Android and iOS devices. Users can photograph objects and ask detailed questions about care instructions, identification, or usage guidance.
India-specific deployment strategy targets mobile users
The launch recognizes India's distinctive search behavior patterns. According to Google's announcement, more people use Google Lens in India monthly than in any other country worldwide. This visual search preference influenced the multimodal design of AI Mode, which incorporates Lens capabilities directly into the conversational interface.
Voice search functionality addresses the preference for verbal queries in Indian markets. Users tap the microphone icon to ask detailed questions without typing lengthy queries. The feature proves particularly useful for complex, exploratory searches while users are mobile or multitasking.
Global expansion context shows systematic rollout
Google first introduced AI Mode as an experiment in the United States earlier in 2025. The company began rolling out to users outside of Labs at Google I/O 2025, which took place May 20-21, 2025. According to Google's documentation, millions of users currently access AI Mode through the Labs program, providing feedback that shapes development priorities.
The AI Mode is already being used by over 1.5 billion users every month across AI Overviews, the broader AI-powered search feature. In Google's biggest markets including the United States and India, AI Overviews drive more than 10% increases in usage for applicable query types. Usage growth accelerates over time as people become familiar with AI-powered search capabilities.
Content discovery mechanisms maintain web focus
AI Mode aims to help users discover content across the web rather than replace website visits. According to Google's announcement, the system uses novel approaches to improve factuality while maintaining connections to original sources. When confidence levels are insufficient, users see traditional web search results instead of AI-generated responses.
The technology creates new opportunities for content discovery by expanding query types that users can express naturally. Complex, nuanced questions that previously required multiple searches can now generate comprehensive responses with relevant links for deeper exploration. This approach supports Google's mission to help people access web content in various formats.
Ranking and quality systems integration
AI Mode builds upon Google's core quality and ranking systems rather than replacing them. The integration ensures that AI-powered responses maintain the same standards applied to traditional search results. Google emphasizes continuous improvement through the Labs experimental framework, which allows rapid iteration based on user feedback.
The system shows AI-powered responses when confidence levels support accuracy. Cases with lower confidence default to standard web search results, maintaining user trust while expanding AI capabilities gradually. This measured approach reflects Google's commitment to quality over speed in AI deployment.
Marketing implications for Indian businesses
The AI Mode launch creates new considerations for businesses targeting Indian markets. The expansion of AI-powered search tools requires marketers to adapt their strategies for natural language queries and conversational search patterns. Content optimized for traditional keyword searches may become less effective as users increasingly engage through longer, more conversational queries.
Local businesses benefit from the visual place and product card features that Google has integrated into AI Mode across other markets. These cards display ratings, reviews, opening hours, and other essential information directly within AI responses, potentially increasing visibility for properly optimized business profiles.
Shopping searches gain enhanced functionality through real-time pricing data, promotional information, shipping details, and local inventory status. E-commerce businesses should prepare for increased scrutiny of product data accuracy as AI Mode synthesizes information from multiple sources to provide comprehensive shopping guidance.
Competitive response to market dynamics
The India launch occurs amid intensifying competition in AI-powered search. Google faces pressure from other AI tools that have gained significant user adoption across hundreds of millions of users globally. The company's response involves expanding AI capabilities while maintaining its traditional search strengths.
Recent internal investments demonstrate Google's commitment to AI leadership. CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that Google plans to spend $75 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025, representing a substantial increase from previous investment levels. This capital expenditure supports multiple business units including search, YouTube, cloud services, and Android platforms.
Quality control and improvement mechanisms
Google acknowledges that early-stage AI products will not always provide perfect results. The company commits to continuous improvement through user feedback and systematic refinements. The Labs experimental environment serves as a testing ground for gathering real-world usage data before broader deployment consideration.
The announcement emphasizes Google's iterative approach to AI development. Rather than launching complete systems immediately, the company prefers controlled rollouts that allow extensive testing and refinement. This methodology has guided previous AI feature launches including AI Overviews, which expanded gradually across multiple countries and languages.
Future development trajectory
The India launch represents part of Google's long-term vision for search transformation. According to company statements, AI capabilities will continue expanding to handle increasingly complex and nuanced questions. The success of AI Overviews with over 1.5 billion monthly users provides validation for continued AI integration across search products.
Google's approach combines advanced model capabilities with established information systems built directly into Search. This integration provides access to high-quality web content alongside fresh, real-time sources including the Knowledge Graph and current shopping data. The combination creates unique value propositions that pure AI chatbots cannot replicate.
The experimental status in Labs allows Google to learn specifically about Indian user preferences and behaviors. This localized feedback will influence feature development and expansion strategies for other international markets. The company has not specified timelines for graduating AI Mode from experimental status to standard availability.
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Timeline
• March 2025: Google announces significant upgrades to AI Overviews and launches experimental AI Mode for select users in Search Labs
• May 1, 2025: Google opens AI Mode to all US users by removing waitlist restrictions and adding visual place and product cards
• May 20-21, 2025: Google I/O 2025 conference announces AI Mode rollout strategy and showcases latest technology developments
• May 20, 2025: Google launches AI Mode with virtual try-on using personal photos for enhanced shopping experiences
• May 21-22, 2025: Google Marketing Live 2025 announces comprehensive AI advertising features including integration with AI Mode
• June 5, 2025: Google CEO reveals $75 billion AI spending plan amid search monopoly challenges and competitive pressures
• June 11, 2025: Google begins testing AI Mode button directly in homepage search bar for users enrolled in Search Labs
• June 17, 2025: Google AI Mode begins counting toward Search Console totals for improved traffic attribution and analytics
• June 23, 2025: Google executive defends AI search features amid mounting publisher traffic concerns and industry criticism
• June 24, 2025: Google introduces AI Mode in India as experimental Labs feature in English