Google has been steadily reshaping the way we search, and a big shift may be right around the corner. Logan Kilpatrick, lead product manager at Google, hinted that AI Mode could soon become the default search experience—a move that would mark a major turning point for how billions of users interact with Google.
Back in May 2025, Liz Reid, Google’s Head of Search, announced that AI Mode would play a central role in the future of Google Search. Now, Kilpatrick’s recent response on X suggests that this vision is closer than ever.
What’s New with Google AI Mode?
- Direct Access: Users can now head to google.com/ai to instantly launch AI Mode without navigating through tabs.
- Global Expansion: AI Mode is already available in 180 countries, including the U.S., UK, and India.
- Multimodal Search: Beyond text, AI Mode supports voice and image searches, making it more versatile than traditional Google search.
- Smarter Results: AI Mode uses a “query fan-out” system, breaking down complex queries into subtopics and pulling from multiple sources. This gives searchers deeper and more comprehensive answers compared to classic search.
- Conversational Features: Just like with AI Overviews and Gemini, users can ask follow-up questions for more personalized results.
Why This Matters for SEO
If AI Mode does become the default experience, it could fundamentally change how websites are discovered and ranked. For SEO professionals and businesses alike, this shift is a reminder that the rules of search are always evolving.
- Data tracking in Search Console is still messy, with AI Mode traffic lumped in with standard searches.
- Marketers and site owners will need to adapt quickly, experimenting with new strategies to stay visible.
- While some may worry about losing traditional visibility, the reality is that SEO has always been about adaptation—and this is just the next chapter.
Whether AI Mode becomes the default in the coming weeks or later down the road, one thing is clear: search is entering a new era. Complaining won’t stop the change—testing, learning, and evolving will.
As history shows, SEOs and digital marketers are some of the best at embracing change. The rise of AI Mode isn’t the end of SEO—it’s an opportunity to rethink, experiment, and prepare for the future of search.
At SEO Guru NYC, we understand how quickly search is evolving—especially with Google’s shift toward AI-driven results. As a leading New York SEO agency, we help businesses stay ahead of these changes by developing strategies that adapt to new search technologies like AI Mode. Their team focuses on driving visibility, improving rankings, and ensuring clients don’t get left behind in the future of search. Ready to stay ahead of the curve? Contact today and let them guide your business through the next era of SEO.
