Google is making it easier — and smarter — for Indian users to ask complex questions online. Its experimental AI Mode in Search, powered by a specially tuned version of Gemini 2.5, has officially launched in India, available in English via Google Labs.
How to Try AI Mode in India
Interested users can open the Google app on their phones and then head to labs.google.com to activate the feature. Once on the site, toggle on the experiment titled AI Mode.
After that, either click the “Try AI Mode” button or simply search for something on Google and select the AI Mode tab from the top of the results page.
Smarter Search, Simpler Answers
Originally trialled in the United States, Google’s AI Mode has been designed to tackle long, detailed, or layered search queries that traditional search engines might struggle with. The company claims that early feedback has been promising, particularly for the feature’s “speed, quality and fresh responses.”
“AI Mode uses a custom version of Gemini 2.5 that lets users ask ‘longer, more complex and nuanced questions,’” Google explained in a blog post announcing the India rollout.
So what does that mean in practical terms? Let’s say you’re a parent looking for indoor activities to burn off your kids’ energy. You could ask: “My kids are 4 and 7 and have lots of energy. Suggest creative ways to get them active and moving indoors, especially on hot days, without needing a lot of space or expensive toys.” The AI not only delivers a list of creative solutions but can handle follow-ups too, such as: “Can you suggest some activities that they can do independently.”
Multimodal Magic: Text, Voice, Image
One of the biggest strengths of AI Mode is its multimodal capability. This means you’re not limited to typing your questions — you can also use voice or images. Tap the microphone icon in Search and simply speak your query, no matter how long or complex it is.
Google is also layering in Lens functionality to make image-based queries even more intuitive. “If you get a new plant as a gift and want to know more about it, simply open the Google app on Android or iOS, take a photo and ask ‘What’s this plant and give me instructions on how to repot and take care of it,’” the blog notes.
Under the Hood: Query Fan-Out and Real-Time Sources
The magic behind AI Mode lies in what Google calls the “query fan-out technique.” In essence, this system breaks down a complex query into smaller components, then performs multiple searches in the background. The result is a more detailed and nuanced answer than you’d typically get from a single search.
The tool also draws from Google’s Knowledge Graph and real-time sources to deliver fresh, contextual answers. Whether it’s advice, shopping suggestions, or factual information, AI Mode aims to deliver all of it in one place.
