Google has made AI Mode one tap away on Android devices by introducing a new homescreen widget shortcut. Recently, Google has been transforming its Search app with various AI features. These changes aim to make searching faster and smarter. Now, the company has taken a step further by making AI Mode instantly accessible right from your home screen.
After experimenting with different designs, Google finally settled on a circular icon placed beside the voice mic and Google Lens in the Search widget. This shortcut first appeared for beta testers back in April. Then, it disappeared for a while before making a strong return. Currently, it is available to both beta and stable users with Google app version 16.28 or later on Android.
Setting up the shortcut is simple. Just long-press the Search widget on your homescreen, tap “Customize,” and navigate to the Shortcuts section. There, you will find “AI Mode” listed second. For users without a Pixel phone, this widget offers the fastest way to access AI Mode. However, the shortcut behaves differently for users not enrolled in the “AI Mode” Search Lab. These users will see it as a pill below the Search bar instead of integrated inside it. Additionally, they won’t get the updated user interface with the new Discover feed design and Search Live.
Google continues to enhance Search with many new AI-powered features. For example, AI Overview offers three follow-up buttons to help users dive deeper into topics. The search tool can also make phone calls to businesses on your behalf. Meanwhile, Search Live lets users speak casually and receive real-time answers. Moreover, AI Mode is expanding to Circle to Search, bringing better visuals and gaming support.
All in all, Google’s AI is now deeply integrated into Search. It aims to boost both efficiency and user experience. Yet, some worry that relying on AI to predict what we want may reduce exploration and learning. We might miss out on unexpected discoveries or broader knowledge.
Still, Google’s push to make AI Mode one tap away marks a new era for search on Android devices. Whether this evolution will make us smarter or just quicker remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: AI is becoming a core part of how we find information online.
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