Google launches new AI Mode for side-by-side web searching

Google has announced the rollout of a new way to explore the web using AI Mode, its conversational search experience. Now, when using AI Mode on Chrome desktop, clicking a link will open the webpage side-by-side with AI Mode. This aims to simplify the process of exploring relevant websites, comparing details, and asking follow-up questions while keeping the context of your search intact, according to the tech giant.

For instance, if you're looking to purchase a new coffee maker, you can describe your requirements in AI Mode and receive a range of options. Once you click on one, you can open the retailer's website alongside AI Mode and ask specific questions like, 'how easy is this to clean?'. AI Mode will then utilize context from the page and information from across the web to answer your queries.

According to Google, early testers loved that they didn't have to constantly switch tabs to get help with a comprehensive article or a long video. They also found that having both Search and the web side-by-side helped them stay focused on their tasks while exploring useful web pages.

Furthermore, Google introduced a new way to search across the Chrome tabs you already have open. On both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome, you can tap the new 'plus' menu in the search box on the 'New Tab' page or in AI Mode, then select recent tabs to include them in your search. This means you can mix and match multiple tabs, images, or files and bring that context into your AI Mode searches.

For example, if you're researching local hiking trails and have a few tabs open, you can add them to your search and ask for similar trails in a different location. Or, if you're studying for a statistics exam, you can incorporate context from open tabs, class notes, lecture slides, and more to ask for examples that illustrate a concept.

The new updates to AI Mode are currently available in the U.S., with plans for Google to expand them to additional regions in the future.