Google Search has taken its biggest leap yet, transforming from a simple keyword-based tool into a full-fledged AI assistant that can research, monitor, book, shop, and even code on behalf of users. At its I/O 2026 developer conference, the company unveiled a slate of Search updates that redefine how we interact with the world's most popular search engine.

The announcement, led by Liz Reid, vice president and head of Search, emphasised that the goal of Search remains simple: to help you ask anything on your mind. But the means of achieving that goal have changed dramatically. Instead of typing a few words and scanning blue links, users can now engage in conversational, multimodal queries, delegate tasks to background agents, and build mini-apps directly within Search.

Here are the seven major upgrades Google announced, along with details on availability and what they mean for everyday users.

1. AI Mode powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash

Google's AI Mode, already reaching one billion monthly users, is now underpinned by the new Gemini 3.5 Flash model worldwide. This model is described as a major leap forward in building more capable, intelligent agents. It can reason across multiple sources, handle long prompts, understand images and video, and complete complex, multistep workflows. The result is a faster, more context-aware Search experience that allows users to ask follow-up questions without losing context. AI Mode with Gemini 3.5 Flash is available globally on desktop and mobile starting now.

2. A new AI Search box

The familiar search bar has been reimagined. Instead of forcing users to compress their thoughts into keywords, the new AI Search box accepts natural language, images, files, videos, and even Chrome tabs. It offers AI suggestions that go far beyond autocomplete, understanding multipart rambles like "I want a portable Bluetooth speaker for the pool, waterproof, with Alexa support – which ones are worth buying?" This upgrade began rolling out on the day of the announcement in regions where AI Mode is available.

3. Information agents that work in the background

One of the most intriguing features is the introduction of Search information agents. Users can create, customize, and manage multiple AI agents that continuously monitor the web, blogs, news, social media, and other sources for specific topics. For example, an apartment hunter can describe exact requirements, and the agent will scan for matching listings and send notifications. These agents will first become available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, with a target launch this summer.

4. Agentic booking for local services

Search is gaining the ability to book local services and appointments. For categories like home repair, beauty, or pet care, users can ask Google to call a business on their behalf. The feature will also show pricing and availability for services like private karaoke rooms, with direct links to complete the booking. These capabilities are scheduled to roll out to everyone in the US by summer 2026.

5. Universal Cart for shopping

Google introduced Universal Cart, an AI-powered shopping cart that works across Search, Gemini, Google Pay, Gmail, and YouTube. It remembers products under consideration, watches for price drops, suggests alternatives, and builds a cart using stored payment, membership, and shipping details. It can even flag product incompatibilities, such as when building a custom PC from parts across multiple retailers. Universal Cart begins rolling out this summer in the US, starting with Search and the Gemini app, followed by YouTube and Gmail.

6. Agentic coding in Search

Google is putting coding capabilities directly into Search, powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash and its Antigravity platform. Users can ask Search to create small tools or apps with custom generative UIs, interactive graphs, and real-time components. Examples include an astrophysics visualization, a wedding-planning dashboard, or a fitness app that pulls data from reviews and live maps. These generative UI capabilities will be available to everyone free of charge this summer, while more advanced custom experiences will roll out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US in the coming months.

7. Personal Intelligence in AI Mode

Opt-in personalization now reaches Search through a feature called Personal Intelligence in AI Mode. By connecting apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Photos, users can get answers that leverage their own data – for instance, finding a buried receipt or surfacing relevant photos while researching a topic. Users can connect or disconnect any app at any time. The feature is expanding to nearly 200 countries and territories across 98 languages, with no subscription required, and appears to be rolling out now.

The transformation of Google Search into a control panel for AI agents marks a significant departure from the list of blue links that defined the early internet. For power users, the ability to delegate tasks, build mini-apps, and receive personalised answers is a game-changer. For the broader audience, the most noticeable changes will be the new AI Search box, Personal Intelligence features (if opted in), and the faster, more capable AI Mode. As Search becomes more proactive and personal, the trade-off lies in the trust users place in Google with their data and context. The company is betting that the convenience of agentic Search will outweigh privacy concerns, nudging the web toward a future where the search engine does far more than just find information – it acts on your behalf.

Source: ZDNET News