Google’s Latest AI Update – What You Need to Know

AI Mode uses a “query fan-out” system that breaks big questions into smaller parts and runs many searches at once.Users can also ask follow-up questions and get links to helpful sites within the search results.

Google’s Latest AI Update – What You Need to Know

Google AI conducts in-house research into AI and invests in an array of R&D programs to create new types of AI technologies. Such partnerships include collaboration with industry leaders and academic institutions. Google shares some of its AI research through open source platforms and also publishes its findings and AI tools.

Google is using AI Mode and AI Overviews as testing grounds for new features, like the improved Gemini 2.5 AI model. User feedback will help shape what becomes part of the main Search experience.

What Are AI Overviews and AI Mode?

• AI Overviews is Google’s way of summarizing key information in search results. Instead of just showing a bunch of blue links, it’ll generate quick, AI-powered answers based on multiple sources.
• AI Mode is an experimental opt-in feature available to Google One AI Premium subscribers. It uses the Gemini 2.0 model to provide even deeper AI-driven responses, process real-time information, and support multimo

This session will reveal how enterprise-to-local strategies can help you maintain strong visibility across hundreds of locations. Learn how you can:

• Optimize AI Overviews vs. Maps Packs: Pinpoint which queries trigger each and apply tactics to win visibility in both.
• Capture Multi-Generational Customers: Align content footprints to match how each age group searches for local brands.
• Prep For Agentic Search’s Arrival: Anticipate what’s next and put a readiness plan in place now.

AI-powered experiences and the influence of social proof are changing how consumers discover, evaluate, and choose brands.

Here's what you need to know:

1. Multimodality: This is the core innovation. Unlike previous AI models that specialized in one data type, Gemini can seamlessly process and integrate information from various sources. Imagine an AI that can not only read a document but also analyze graphs within it, understand spoken instructions, and even interpret a video.

2. Scalability: Gemini comes in different sizes:

1. Ultra: The largest and most capable model, designed for highly complex tasks.
2. Pro: Optimized for scaling across a wide range of applications.
3. Nano: The most efficient version, designed for on-device applications like smartphones

The Future of Gemini

While Gemini is still in its early stages, Google is actively developing exciting features:

• Multi-Step Reasoning: Imagine search results that anticipate your next question, providing a seamless flow of information. For example, a search for “hiking trails in Yosemite” might be followed by suggestions on camping gear or local restaurants.
• Search Beyond Words: Google Lens will evolve to allow video searches, making visual inquiries a reality. Imagine searching for “how to fix a leaky faucet” and getting video tutorials directly in your search results.
• AI-Curated Results: Search results might be personalized based on your needs and interests. Imagine searching for “restaurants near me” and getting a curated list based on your past preferences or dietary restrictions.

Search Results Are Getting More Personalized

This is why it is so important to understand...

• WHO you’re talking to when producing content
• WHAT they are searching for and why. What pains, issues, and challenges are they trying to solve?
• HOW you can help them and provide content for that
• AI powered tools may be able to help get started, but they won’t get you all the way there.

Content creation and SEO are not about Google or search engines. They are about understanding your audience and creating helpful content with natural language that shows your experience.

Updates to Google Maps:

Google Maps has been updated to provide an even better and intuitive experience to the users. It can alert you with interesting updates near your area, like a festival or a restaurant shutting down, give you a ‘foodie list’ , or generate a list of popular brunch spots.

Google Lens

Google Lens has integrated AI to give users a big picture about their environments. It will also provide contextual suggestions for objects in their surrounding environment. For example, scanning a restaurant can show you the menu, pricing, reservations, and timings. It can also help you copy and save text from a book to your phones.

Smart compose for Gmail

Google’s smart reply has made answering emails extremely convenient. The team has added an extension to this amazing feature. Google’s G Suite team introduced Smart compose, a new feature powered by AI, which can auto-complete your sentences! As you are typing, the tool can make suggestions for the rest of the sentence.

Gemini Nano can run on your phone

Gemini Nano is a tiny version of Gemini efficient enough to run directly on (some) devices instead of sending the task off to a server somewhere. So far, Nano powers a couple of features on the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9, and Samsung Galaxy S24, including Summarize in Recorder and Smart Reply in Gboard.