Google's AI Overviews just got a major Gemini 2.0 upgrade - here's what's new

(Image credit: Google)

Google is rolling out Gemini 2.0 in AI Overviews and introducing AI Mode, a powerful new experimental feature in Search.

The integration of AI Mode into Google's core ranking systems and real-time data sources ses a “query fan-out” technique, running multiple related searches in parallel to compile the best responses. This is to ensure accuracy and reliability.

With the latest upgrade to Gemini 2.0, AI Overviews are now more effective at handling advanced math, coding, and multimodal queries (e.g., those involving text, images, and voice).

Since its debut, AI Overviews — Google’s AI-generated summaries that answer search queries—have been used by over a billion people worldwide.

These updates promise faster, higher-quality responses, expanded accessibility, and enhanced reasoning capabilities to tackle more complex queries.

With the latest upgrade to Gemini 2.0, AI Overviews are now more effective at handling advanced math, coding, and multimodal queries (e.g., those involving text, images, and voice).

The improved system provides faster, higher-quality responses and displays AI-generated summaries more consistently for relevant searches.

In addition to performance improvements, AI Overviews are expanding to a wider audience. Previously, users needed to be signed in to access them, but Google is now making AI Overviews available without requiring a login.

AI Overviews – what’s new

Google AI logo on phone

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

For power users looking for even deeper AI integration in search, Google is launching AI Mode, an opt-in experiment from Google Labs. This feature leverages a custom version of Gemini 2.0 to provide advanced reasoning, deeper exploration, and multimodal support for complex queries.

Unlike standard AI Overviews, AI Mode can:

Answer highly detailed, multi-step questions that typically require multiple searches
Compare multiple options (e.g., “What’s the difference in sleep tracking between a smart ring, smartwatch, and tracking mat?”)
Offer conversational follow-ups, allowing users to refine their search and get better-targeted results
Use multimodal input, meaning users can search with text, voice, or images
Tap into Google’s real-time information systems, including the Knowledge Graph, shopping data, and up-to-the-minute sources

Google says AI Mode will generate AI-powered responses and provide links to explore additional perspectives across the web.

An emphasis on accuracy

AI mode google gif — (Image credit: Google)

Despite these advancements, Google acknowledges that AI Mode is still in its early stages and may occasionally produce inaccurate or biased results. To counteract this, the company is implementing safeguards, including:

Fact-checking with corroborated web sources to prevent AI hallucinations
Higher standards for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics, ensuring financial, medical, and safety-related information comes from reputable sources
Strict safety filters, incorporating tools like SafeSearch to block harmful or explicit content

How to try AI Mode

As part of its experimental phase, Google will initially roll out AI Mode exclusively to Google One AI Premium subscribers before expanding it further based on user feedback.

AI Mode will be available as an opt-in for those eager to try Google’s most advanced AI search experience. Users can access it in several ways:

Through Google Search – After entering a query, select the “AI Mode” tab
Directly at google.com/aimode – A dedicated page for AI-powered searches
Via the Google app – Tap the AI Mode icon below the search bar

The future of AI in search

Person using a laptop in the back seat of a car with generic search engine on laptop screen. — (Image credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)

With these updates, Google pushes AI search capabilities further while staying competitive against rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the AI race.

While still experimental, Google plans to improve AI Mode with additional visual responses, better formatting, and expanded functionality based on user feedback.

For now, AI Mode represents cutting-edge improvements to AI-assisted search — offering deeper insights, more interactivity, and a glimpse into the future of how we find and engage with information online.