Google used I/O 2026 to describe the largest change to Search in decades. AI Mode now has Gemini 3.5 Flash as its default model, and Google says the feature has passed one billion monthly users. The search box itself is being rebuilt around AI, with space for longer prompts, suggestions that help shape questions, and inputs that can include text, images, files, videos, and Chrome tabs.

The change moves Search away from the old rhythm of typing keywords, scanning blue links, and opening pages one by one. Users can ask follow-up questions from AI Overviews, keep context across a conversation, and let Search build custom responses in real time. Google also announced information agents that monitor the web for changes, booking agents for local services, and mini-app style tools generated inside Search.

The practical effect is simple. Search is becoming a place where answers, summaries, comparisons, monitoring, and actions happen before the open web gets a visit. For publishers, stores, and services that depend on human clicks, the change hits the entry point. If Google handles the task inside Search, the page becomes background infrastructure.