What To Know
- In a bold move signaling the future of internet navigation, Google has launched a new artificial intelligence-powered feature called “AI Mode” for users in the United Kingdom.
- In one demo (though not yet accessible in Thailand), Google illustrated how a user searching for strawberry-picking spots for a young family was offered an AI-generated overview that provided a broad yet curated answer.
AI Platforms and Apps: Google AI Mode Revolutionizes Search Habits in UK
In a bold move signaling the future of internet navigation, Google has launched a new artificial intelligence-powered feature called “AI Mode” for users in the United Kingdom. Unlike the traditional list of blue links that has defined the world’s most popular search engine for decades, this new tool delivers direct answers written in a conversational, natural tone—summarizing key information instead of redirecting users to multiple websites.
The new Google AI Mode is expected to change the search habits of many mobile users especially the Gen Y & Gen Z twats
Image Credit: Al-Generated
The launch follows rollouts in the United States and India, where early user reactions and data indicate a fundamental shift in how people interact with search engines. This AI Platforms and Apps news report explores the broader implications of Google’s move as the tool begins reshaping digital ecosystems in the UK and beyond.
AI Mode Optional but Influential
For now, the feature is optional. UK users will be able to activate AI Mode through a clearly marked tab or directly in the search bar. But its impact is already significant. Instead of simply listing pages, AI Mode leverages Google’s Gemini platform to generate concise answers based on indexed data across the web—reducing the number of links users see and click.
This shift is rattling many online businesses, publishers, and advertisers whose visibility—and revenue—depend on Google search traffic. Many firms pay for priority placement in search results, but an AI summary changes the entire equation. In these new answer boxes, the spotlight no longer shines on individual links, but on a general summary that might only briefly mention a few sources.
Reports indicate that desktop and mobile click-through rates to external links have plunged by as much as 50% since the AI Overview feature was introduced. One Pew Research study even suggested users now click a link only once every 100 searches when an AI summary is presented.
Publishers and Retailers Sound the Alarm
Rosa Curling, director of the digital rights advocacy group Foxglove, expressed concern over what this development means for journalism and media outlets. She warns that while AI summaries may seem convenient, they divert user attention away from original content sources.
“What the AI summary now does is make sure that the readers’ eyes stay on the Google web page,” Curling said. “And the advertising revenue of those news outlets is being massively impacted.”
That’s because advertising-based media models rely heavily on traffic. With fewer people clicking through to read full articles, monetization strategies collapse. This situation becomes even more complex considering that AI-generated summaries sometimes contain factual inaccuracies—a flaw critics argue adds insult to injury.
Despite these warnings, Google’s Hema Budaraju, the Product Manager for Search, remains optimistic. “I would say that I think people are going to use these technologies to unlock newer information-seeking journeys,” she noted. She believes AI-driven search fosters more natural and nuanced queries.
Evolving User Behavior Is the Driver
The change, Google argues, is rooted in how people are increasingly phrasing their questions. Instead of keyword-based inputs like “clean carpet stain,” users now pose full-sentence queries such as “I spilled coffee on my Berber carpet, I’m looking for a cleaner that is pet-friendly.” AI Mode is built to handle this evolving behavior, providing summarized responses that better reflect real-world intent.
In one demo (though not yet accessible in Thailand), Google illustrated how a user searching for strawberry-picking spots for a young family was offered an AI-generated overview that provided a broad yet curated answer. While links were included, they appeared farther down the page—unlike traditional results where they appear prominently.
The Ad Revenue Question
One of the most critical unknowns is how advertising will work in AI Mode. Budaraju confirmed that Google has not yet finalized plans regarding ad placements within AI-generated results. This leaves businesses uncertain whether they can still compete for visibility—and how.
For many, the lack of clarity is concerning. A single AI summary replacing numerous clickable results could devastate those dependent on organic or paid search exposure. Critics argue this move could effectively gatekeep web traffic, concentrating it within Google’s ecosystem.
Concerns Beyond Economics
The controversy doesn’t end with ad revenue and journalism. The environmental cost of AI usage is also raising red flags. AI systems require massive data centers powered by significant amounts of energy and water for cooling. As AI adoption surges, the sustainability of such infrastructure is being called into question.
In response, Budaraju stated that Google remains committed to environmentally responsible operations. “We are constantly, as Google and as Search, evolving sustainable ways to serve technology,” she said.
Despite these assurances, many believe a reckoning is coming. As AI becomes the gatekeeper to the internet, debates over ethics, energy, economy, and access are only intensifying.
The Bigger Picture
Google’s AI Mode marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of search technology. While it promises more intuitive, human-like answers, it threatens to upend the business models of countless online platforms and media outlets. If people no longer leave Google’s walled garden, the open web—already fragile—could face new existential threats.
But it’s not just about business. It’s about trust, accuracy, accessibility, and the future of digital knowledge sharing. As the world’s most powerful tech company transforms the way we search, it also takes on unprecedented responsibility for the information users receive—and the opportunities others may lose.
The real question now is: will this innovation empower users, or isolate them within a curated feed shaped by algorithms alone?
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