Google AI integration subtly transforms search into a work-centric platform
Google's AI Mode is revolutionising the way users interact with their desktop and mobile browsers, introducing a host of innovative features designed to enhance interactive search and research experiences.
One of the key additions is the Canvas feature, a planning and organization tool that allows users to create and refine plans for tasks spanning multiple sessions. This tool, available within AI Mode, can aid with project planning, research outlines, trip itineraries, and more. Users can iterate in real time, ask AI Mode to draft a plan, make changes through follow-up prompts, and organise the results visually in the side panel.
The Canvas feature is not the only innovation. AI Mode is also expanding its support for additional file types, including those from Google Drive, in future updates. This will enable users to work with a wider variety of content, not just text.
Google's Search Live integrates the camera-based Lens tool with AI Mode, offering real-time, conversational help based on visual data. This integration allows users to take a picture or upload an image and ask questions about it, with the AI generating a response.
AI Mode is also evolving to function as a workspace, providing assistance with complex documents, explaining visuals, and aiding in multi-step tasks. This transformation positions AI Mode as a deeply interactive, multimodal assistant, moving beyond traditional search results to offer personalised, in-depth responses and tools for learning, planning, and exploration.
Google's AI Mode in Chrome allows users to open the assistant with the image they're exploring already included, making it easy to ask follow-up questions without switching tabs or starting a new search. Users can also upload PDFs and images for context-aware queries, allowing them to ask questions about the content in those files and receive AI-generated responses.
Some features of AI Mode are already available in early access for users who have joined the AI Mode Labs program. For instance, with AI Mode in Chrome, users can click "Ask Google about this page" from the address bar to launch Lens and the AI assistant for help with complex charts, technical sections, or difficult diagrams.
These enhancements position AI Mode as a powerful tool for users who juggle multiple tabs, files, and formats during more complex workflows on desktop browsers. With its ability to support a variety of file types, the Canvas feature for planning and organisation, and its evolution into a workspace, AI Mode is set to become an integral part of users' digital lives.
[1] Google AI Blog: https://ai.googleblog.com/2022/05/ai-mode-for-google-search-helps-you.html
[2] The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/22609394/google-ai-mode-search-live-lens-features
[3] TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/11/google-ai-mode-search-live-lens-features/
[4] Google AI Blog: https://ai.googleblog.com/2022/05/ai-mode-for-google-search-helps-you.html
- The Canvas feature within Google's AI Mode, designed for planning and organization, can be used to create and refine plans for various tasks beyond mere text, using real-time iterations and AI assistance.
- In addition to the Canvas feature, Google's AI Mode is also planning to extend its support for various file types, including those from Google Drive, in upcoming updates, enabling users to work with a broader range of content.
