In a move to enhance its flagship service, Google is integrating more artificial intelligence into its search bar, a staple of the world’s most popular website. This announcement comes as the tech behemoth revisits the realm of smart eyewear, over ten years after the initial launch of Google Glass, which faced ridicule and was colloquially dubbed “glassholes” by the public. Google’s latest developments were revealed during the Google I/O conference, the company’s annual event for software developers.
The tech giant’s search box will now support more detailed and conversational queries, reflecting how people naturally communicate rather than relying on the traditional, somewhat awkward syntax of past searches. These updates are part of a broader initiative to connect users with Google’s chatbot, an effort driven by the company’s new AI model known as Gemini 3.5. This model aims to enhance user interaction by making longer text predictions and offering more visual search results. Users will also be prompted to engage Google’s AI for tasks like creating calendar events or managing spreadsheets within Google’s suite of products.
Elizabeth Reid, who heads Google Search, described these enhancements as the most significant in nearly three decades of the service’s history. The changes, which affect both desktop and mobile versions, include a new option for users to toggle between the traditional list of links and a more visually driven AI Overview. Reid noted that Google Search queries hit a record high last month, and interactions with the chatbot-specific interface have seen exponential growth since the introduction of the “AI Mode” a year ago.
Josh Woodward, in charge of developing Google Gemini, explained that the vision is to create a “universal assistant” that is personal and proactive. The Gemini app boasts 900 million monthly users, although it still trails behind ChatGPT’s 900 million weekly users. The introduction of “information agents” for subscribers to AI Pro and Ultra plans, as well as a “generative user interface” feature, signifies a push to make AI more accessible to everyday consumers. These tools can conduct in-depth research and craft interactive visuals or plans based on user input.
In collaboration with Samsung and eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, Google unveiled a line of “intelligent eyewear” set to hit the market in the fall. These glasses will feature voice command capabilities and camera functions, echoing similar products by Meta and EssilorLuxottica. Google’s prior venture into smart glasses with Google Glass in 2014 was short-lived due to public criticism. However, changing perceptions have led both Meta and Google to view augmented-reality glasses as a promising future business avenue, with Google already working on a new model featuring an in-lens display, known as Project Aura.