On Tuesday, Google unveiled plans to enhance its iconic search bar with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, aiming to transform the way users interact with the world’s most frequented website. This announcement came alongside the tech giant’s renewed venture into smart eyewear, over a decade after its initial foray was met with ridicule and the infamous “glassholes” nickname in San Francisco.
During the Google I/O annual developers conference, executives revealed that the search box would now support more intricate and conversational queries. This shift aims to make user interactions with Google more natural and less reliant on the traditional search syntax. The updates are powered by Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3.5, which was also introduced at the event. Gemini promises to offer longer text predictions based on user input and integrate visual elements into everyday search results, encouraging users to interact with Google’s AI for tasks like creating calendar events or spreadsheets.
Elizabeth Reid, who leads Google Search, emphasized the significance of these changes, describing them as the most substantial updates in the platform’s nearly three-decade history. As these updates roll out globally, users will notice search results that resemble visually augmented AI Overviews rather than the conventional list of links. However, the traditional search format remains accessible via a “Web” tab. With search queries reaching an all-time high last month and the “AI Mode” interface doubling its interactions quarterly, Google’s push towards a more interactive search experience is evident. Users can now add multimedia to the Chrome browser’s search bar, which will automatically trigger AI mode.
Josh Woodward, the lead developer for Gemini, shared that the overarching aim is to craft a “universal assistant” that is personal and proactive. With 900 million monthly users of the Gemini app, Google is expanding its AI reach beyond tech enthusiasts to mainstream consumers. For those subscribed to the AI Pro and Ultra plans, new features include “information agents,” capable of conducting in-depth research and generating summaries or action plans. Additionally, the “generative user interface” can produce personalized visuals like dashboards, while the Gemini Spark feature integrates with Google services to assist with research, shopping, and planning.
In collaboration with Samsung and eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, Google introduced a new line of “intelligent eyewear” set for release this fall. These sunglasses and eyeglasses will feature voice-command capabilities linked to Gemini and include cameras for capturing photos and videos. Since 2021, Meta has partnered with EssilorLuxottica to offer similar smart glasses under the Ray-Ban Meta brand. Google’s previous attempt at smart eyewear, Google Glass, was discontinued in 2015 after a lukewarm reception. However, with changing perceptions, both Google and Meta view augmented-reality glasses as pivotal to their future strategies. Google is also working on a new smart glasses model, Project Aura, featuring an in-lens display.