Google AI Mode

What Is It, In Plain Words?

AI Mode is a tab in Google Search. Instead of a list of links, it writes a simple answer to longer questions, with links to the websites it used.

It's useful when your question has several parts, like comparing two things.

What You Can Use It For

• Questions with several parts. "What's the cheapest way to get from Leeds to Edinburgh by train, and do I need to book ahead?"
• Comparing options. "Which is better for a beginner, an iPad or an Android tablet?"
• Follow-ups. Ask another question underneath without starting again.

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to google.com. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Type a question into Google as normal and press Enter.
3. Click the AI Mode tab near the top of the results. You can also go straight to it from Google's AI Mode page.
4. Read the answer, and click the links beside it to check the websites it used.
5. Type a follow-up question in the box at the bottom.

On A Phone

1. Open the Google app or Chrome and search as normal.
2. Tap AI Mode. You can also tap the microphone to ask out loud.

Things To Try Typing

Copy any of these, or change the details to suit you.

What It Costs

It's free. There's no paid version to buy — it's part of Google Search.

If anyone asks you to pay to use it, or to "unlock" it, that's a scam.

Privacy And Safety

• What it keeps. If you're signed in to Google, your searches may be saved in My Activity (myactivity.google.com), where you can delete them or set auto-delete.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).
• Check important answers about health, money or the law with your doctor, pharmacist, bank or a qualified adviser.

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Free, and already in Google.
• Shows links, so you can check the answer.
• On a computer, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and press + to make the words bigger. On a phone, it follows your text size setting.

Watch-Outs

• It can misread websites. Click through for anything important.
• Adverts can appear near answers. Check what's sponsored.
• For health or money, prefer official sources such as the NHS, GOV.UK or USA.gov.

Similar Tools

• Perplexity: an AI search engine that shows where each answer came from.
• Gemini: Google's assistant, handy if you use Gmail or an Android phone.
• ChatGPT: the best-known chatbot, with a simple app and voice mode.

Common Questions

Is Google AI Mode free?

Yes, it's free in Google Search.

Where do I find AI Mode?

Search on Google as normal, then click or tap the AI Mode tab near the top.

Can I turn off AI answers in Google?

You can choose the Web tab to see plain links instead. See our guide to turning off Gemini and AI Overviews for more.