Google officially repositions Search as AI Search, replacing traditional links with Gemini-powered conversational responses

At Google I/O, head of search Liz Reid announced the most significant change to the search box in the company's history: users now communicate directly with Gemini (Google's AI model) rather than browsing the "10 blue links." Search queries are reframed as conversation starters, and answers can include personalized presentations with charts, bullet points, and animations created on the fly by AI agents.

Google says more than a billion people a month are searching with AI Mode (a separate tab where links are even more peripheral), and AI Mode queries are doubling every quarter. The shift builds on AI Overview, introduced two years ago, which places AI-generated summaries above traditional search results.

Reid acknowledges that the change will harm some websites—particularly those offering generic content that AI can easily replicate—but argues that original voices and uniquely reported content will still find an audience. She declined to share metrics on how many users click through from AI responses to linked websites.