Google announced on Thursday that it has introduced an updated method for web exploration using AI Mode, its interactive search experience. Now, when users engage with AI Mode on Chrome desktop, clicking a link will display the web page alongside AI Mode.
The tech giant stated that this functionality aims to simplify the process of investigating relevant websites, comparing information, and asking follow-up questions, all while maintaining the initial search context.
For instance, if you’re looking to buy a new coffee maker, you can describe your preferences in AI Mode to receive a selection of choices. Once you select one, the retailer’s website can open next to AI Mode, allowing you to pose specific questions, such as “how easy is this to clean?” AI Mode will then utilize information from the page and the wider web to provide answers.
In a blog post, Google elaborated, “Our initial testers appreciated not needing to constantly switch tabs to gain insights from a comprehensive article or a lengthy video.” They also discovered that “having both Search and the web side-by-side helped them remain focused on their tasks while exploring useful web pages.”
Google also revealed a novel method for searching within the Chrome tabs you currently have open.
On Chrome desktop or mobile, you can access the new “plus” menu in the search box on the “New Tab” page or within AI Mode, and then choose recent tabs to incorporate them into your search. This capability enables you to combine various tabs, images, or files and integrate that context into your AI Mode searches.
For example, if you’re researching local hiking trails and have several tabs open, you can add them to your search and ask for similar trails in a different area. Alternatively, if you’re preparing for a statistics exam, you can bring in context from open tabs, class notes, lecture slides, and more to request examples that clarify a concept.
These new AI Mode updates are currently available in the U.S., with Google planning to roll them out to additional regions in the future.