On the 20th, Google held its annual developer conference ‘I/O 25’ in Mountain View, California, where they introduced new technologies, including a chatbot-style AI search mode that also supports video searches. Unlike traditional search, which presents a list of related links, this new AI mode provides answers through conversational interaction, a move to maintain Google’s leading position in the AI era.
In addition, Google is partnering with Samsung to re-enter the smart glasses market after 12 years, aiming to integrate AI to analyze user gaze, provide real-time translations, and more. Google’s AI mode search will initially launch as a ‘tab’ feature for U.S. users, utilizing their proprietary AI model, Gemini. This technology can decompose complex questions into stages, integrating relevant information supported by multimodal capabilities like text summarization, image analysis, and video understanding.
Currently, AI-based chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT are shifting user search behavior away from clicking link lists to interacting with AI for information gathering. This poses a threat to Google, which holds a 90% share of the global internet search market. Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized that the company is reimagining its search system with more advanced reasoning capabilities, signaling a new phase in AI platform transition.
Furthermore, Google plans to introduce features such as ‘Deep Search’ for academic queries and ‘Search Live’ for interpreting scenes via smartphone cameras, while also handling user tasks like booking tickets through AI agents. The company is also considering incorporating advertisements into AI mode search results.
Google’s collaboration with Samsung and other companies like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker underscores a broad partnership in developing XR devices, including the newly announced smart glasses, advancing from their Google Glass released in 2013. These glasses, backed by Gemini, will offer functionalities like non-intrusive scene narration, real-time translation, and more, enhancing user interaction capabilities.
Despite perceptions of trailing behind competitors like OpenAI and Microsoft in the AI race, Google is leveraging its extensive user base to push AI search development. Pichai also hinted at a potential partnership with Apple, allowing iPhone’s Siri to use Gemini, challenging the current use of ChatGPT in Siri. Additionally, Google is set to release its advanced AI model ‘Gemini 2.5 Pro’ and a lighter version ‘Gemini 2.5 Flash’ this summer, along with a $250 monthly subscription service, ‘AI Ultra,’ for users seeking enriched AI experiences.