Google Search is undergoing its most significant transformation in over two decades. At its I/O 2026 developer conference, the company unveiled a sweeping set of AI-driven features that turn the traditional search engine into a conversational assistant, a background researcher, and even a coding platform. The new AI Search box, information agents, and agentic coding capabilities represent a fundamental shift from the familiar list of blue links to a more proactive, personalized, and agentic experience.
AI Mode Gets Faster with Gemini 3.5 Flash
The AI Mode tab in Google Search, which already serves over one billion monthly users, is now powered globally by Gemini 3.5 Flash. This new model family is described by Google as a "major leap forward" for building capable, intelligent agents. It excels at complex, long-horizon tasks, handling longer prompts, reasoning across multiple sources, and understanding images and video. Users can now engage in conversational back-and-forth with AI Mode, asking follow-up questions while the system retains context. Gemini 3.5 Flash is rolling out immediately across all devices, making AI Mode faster and more responsive.
A New AI Search Box
The most visible change is the redesigned Search box, which Google calls "the biggest upgrade in over 25 years." Instead of forcing users to compress thoughts into a few keywords, the new box accepts natural language, images, files, videos, or even Chrome tabs. For example, a user can type a rambling question like "I want a portable Bluetooth speaker for the pool, waterproof, with Alexa support—what's good?" and Search understands the intent. AI suggestions go beyond autocomplete, offering contextual prompts. This feature is starting to roll out today in regions where AI Mode is available.
Information Agents Work in the Background
Google is introducing information agents that can be created, customized, and managed directly in Search. These agents continuously monitor the web, blogs, news, and social posts for topics the user specifies. For instance, an apartment hunter can set requirements like budget, location, and amenities, and the agent will scan listings and notify when matches appear. These agents are coming first to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers this summer. They represent a shift from reactive search to proactive intelligence.
Agentic Coding in Search
Perhaps the most surprising addition is agentic coding. Users can ask Search to build small apps or tools using natural language, powered by Google Antigravity and Gemini 3.5 Flash. The system generates a custom user interface with interactive graphs, real-time data, and layouts. Examples include an astrophysics visualization, a wedding planning dashboard, or a fitness tracker that pulls from reviews and local sources. Generative UI capabilities will be free for everyone this summer, while more advanced Antigravity experiences will first reach Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Universal Cart for Agentic Shopping
Shopping is becoming agentic with Universal Cart, a feature that connects Search, Gemini, Google Pay, Gmail, and YouTube. It remembers products being considered, watches for price drops, finds alternatives, and builds a cart using payment and loyalty details. For example, building a custom PC across multiple retailers triggers incompatibility alerts and suggests alternatives. Universal Cart launches this summer in the US on Search and the Gemini app, expanding later to YouTube and Gmail.
Local Service Booking Gets AI Assistance
Google is adding agentic booking for local services. For categories like home repair, beauty, or pet care, users can ask Google to call a business on their behalf. For general appointments, Search will show real-time availability and pricing with direct booking links. These capabilities roll out to everyone in the US in summer 2026.
Personal Intelligence in AI Mode
Personal Intelligence is an opt-in feature that connects Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Photos to provide more personalized answers. For example, finding a receipt in Gmail or surfacing relevant photos from a trip. Users can connect or disconnect apps at any time. This feature is expanding to nearly 200 countries and 98 languages without requiring a subscription, rolling out now.
These updates mark a clear departure from the traditional search paradigm. Google is building a platform that not only answers questions but also acts on behalf of users—monitoring, booking, shopping, and coding. The trade-off is a deeper reliance on Google's data ecosystem, but for many, the convenience of an agentic assistant may outweigh privacy concerns. As these features roll out over the coming months, the line between search engine and personal agent continues to blur.
Source: ZDNET News