Google adds Gemini AI to Search for longer questions, shopping, and video

In short: Google is updating its Search box with Gemini AI so it can answer longer questions, help with shopping, and add new video tools.

What happened

Google is weaving its Gemini AI models into Google Search. You will see this most clearly in two features, AI Overviews and AI Mode. AI Overviews are short AI written summaries that appear above regular results, and AI Mode is a separate “AI” tab that turns Search into a more chat-like experience.

Google says Search is now powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5 for these features. It also started bringing Gemini 3 Pro into AI Mode for some paying subscribers in the US, who can pick a “Thinking” option. Google says harder questions can be routed to this stronger model, while simpler searches use faster systems.

In AI Mode, Google is aiming to handle longer requests like trip planning or comparing several options at once. Answers can show up as tables, timelines, or other layouts instead of only paragraphs and links. Think of it like asking a librarian for a short, organized brief, plus a list of where the facts came from.

Google is also using Gemini to simplify online shopping inside Search. It can help narrow down products using Google’s Shopping Graph (a large product database), offer virtual try-on for clothing by using a photo you upload, and test an AI assisted checkout that can watch prices and buy with Google Pay after you confirm.

Separately, Google is introducing Gemini based video generation and video editing help across its products, aimed mainly at creators.

Why it matters

For everyday users, this could change Search from a place you type a few keywords into, to a place where you ask full questions and get a more guided answer. It also means more decisions, like what to buy, could happen directly on Google instead of on other websites.

Source: NYTimes