Google Search is entering a new era with a sweeping AI-powered transformation, unveiled just as Apple warns that artificial intelligence is already cutting into the traditional search engine’s dominance.
The latest update, announced at Google’s annual I/O developer conference, introduces a more conversational interface and an AI assistant.
This marks a major strategic shift as Google tries to stay ahead of rising competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Apple Says AI Is Disrupting Search
In testimony during the Department of Justice’s ongoing antitrust trial against Google’s parent company, Alphabet, Apple executive Eddy Cue revealed a stunning admission: “Searches on Apple’s Safari browser shrank for the first time ever in April.” He attributed this drop to users turning to AI tools instead of Google Search.
Cue’s statement underscores what’s at stake in the federal case, which has spotlighted Google’s massive $20 billion-a-year deal with Apple to remain the default search engine on iPhones and other Apple devices.
AI Mode: The Future of Google Search
In response to growing pressure, Google Search is rolling out AI Mode, a new feature designed to make interactions smarter and more human-like. Opening in a separate tab, AI Mode allows users to ask layered or follow-up questions, making searches feel more like a conversation than a static query.
