Google begins testing AI Mode button directly in homepage search bar

Google commenced testing an AI Mode button positioned directly within its homepage search bar on June 11, 2025, according to observations from users enrolled in Search Labs. The experimental feature represents the most significant interface modification to the iconic Google.com homepage since the search engine's early development phases.

The new AI Mode implementation displays as a pill-shaped button featuring the magnifying glass sparkle icon. This button appears to the right of existing shortcuts for microphone and Google Lens functionality. When users tap the button, it directs them to the google.com/aimode landing page, where they can access search history through a side panel interface.

"AI Mode with the magnifying glass sparkle icon appears inside a pill at the right after the microphone and Google Lens shortcuts," according to the technical documentation. The button functionality changes based on user interaction patterns. Empty search fields result in navigation to the dedicated AI Mode page, while populated queries immediately launch the AI-powered search experience.

Summary

Who: Google, under CEO Sundar Pichai, is testing the AI Mode button feature for users enrolled in Search Labs experimental program

What: An AI Mode button positioned directly within Google's homepage search bar, featuring a magnifying glass sparkle icon in a pill-shaped container that provides immediate access to AI-powered search capabilities

When: Testing began on June 11, 2025, following earlier experiments in May 2025 that replaced the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button

Where: The button appears on google.com homepage for users enrolled in Search Labs, positioned to the right of microphone and Google Lens shortcuts

Why: Google is responding to competitive pressures from AI tools like ChatGPT, changing user behavior toward complex queries, and the need to integrate AI capabilities directly into the search interface to maintain market position

The interface includes distinctive visual elements designed to capture user attention. "On initial page load, there's a colorful animation around the pill that then fades away," according to implementation details. This animation sequence serves as both an introduction mechanism and visual indicator for the experimental nature of the feature.

Google's AI Mode testing extends beyond simple button placement. The company previously experimented with replacing the traditional "I'm Feeling Lucky" button entirely with AI Mode functionality. Those tests occurred throughout May 2025, demonstrating Google's systematic approach to interface integration.

The timing of this homepage integration aligns with Google's broader AI Mode expansion strategy. The search giant announced AI Mode availability for all United States users on May 1, 2025, eliminating previous waitlist restrictions that limited access to Google One AI Premium subscribers. This expansion represented a significant shift from the experimental launch phase that began in March 2025.

Technical infrastructure supporting AI Mode relies on what Google describes as "query fan-out technique." This system breaks down user inquiries into multiple subtopics, simultaneously processing hundreds of related searches to generate comprehensive responses. The approach differs fundamentally from traditional search algorithms that rank individual web pages based on relevance signals.

Mobile implementations of AI Mode preceded desktop homepage testing. Android and iOS users received prominent AI Mode buttons within their respective Google Search applications before desktop interface modifications began. This mobile-first approach reflects user behavior patterns showing increased adoption of AI-powered search on mobile devices.

The experimental status remains explicit in Google's public statements regarding the feature. "We're seeing this changed when enrolled into Search Labs, but it's not yet widely available," according to current implementation guidelines. Search Labs serves as Google's testing platform for experimental features before broader deployment consideration.

User interaction data influences the development trajectory of AI Mode interface elements. Google reported that AI Mode queries typically measure twice the length of traditional search queries, with users leveraging the system for exploratory research requiring multiple information sources. This behavioral pattern justifies the dedicated interface space allocation for AI Mode functionality.

The button placement strategy reflects careful consideration of user interface hierarchy. Positioning the AI Mode button after microphone and Google Lens shortcuts maintains the logical flow of input methods while introducing the AI-powered option as an enhanced search capability rather than a replacement for traditional search functionality.

Google's approach to AI Mode integration demonstrates the company's response to competitive pressures in the search market. Industry data indicates declining Google Search usage on Safari for the first time, attributed to the growing popularity of AI tools such as ChatGPT. The homepage button placement strategy addresses this challenge by making AI capabilities immediately accessible to users.

Historical context emphasizes the significance of any Google homepage modifications. The search engine's minimalist design philosophy has remained largely unchanged since the company's founding, with few visual elements beyond the search bar and navigation buttons. The addition of an AI Mode button represents a departure from this established design principle.

Implementation of the AI Mode button reflects broader changes in search user behavior patterns. "People are coming to Google to ask more of their questions, including more complex, longer and multimodal questions," according to Google's internal research data. The homepage button provides direct access to these enhanced capabilities without requiring users to navigate through multiple interface layers.

The experimental nature of the current testing suggests Google's cautious approach to permanent homepage modifications. While the AI Mode button testing continues, the company has not committed to making the change permanent. User feedback and adoption metrics will likely influence the final implementation decision.

Technical specifications for the AI Mode button include specific visual design elements intended to differentiate the feature from existing homepage components. The sparkle icon within the magnifying glass serves as a visual indicator of AI functionality, while the pill-shaped container maintains consistency with Google's current design language across products.

Search Labs enrollment requirements limit current access to the AI Mode button testing. Users must specifically opt into experimental features to participate in the testing phase. This controlled rollout allows Google to gather feedback from engaged users while minimizing potential disruption to the broader user base.

The AI Mode button represents one component of Google's comprehensive artificial intelligence integration strategy across search products. The company has simultaneously expanded AI Overviews to additional markets, introduced visual place and product cards, and developed new shopping experiences powered by AI technology.

Why this matters

The introduction of AI Mode buttons on Google's homepage carries significant implications for digital marketing professionals and search engine optimization strategies. PPC Land covered how AI Mode fundamentally changes content optimization requirements, shifting focus from traditional keyword targeting to comprehensive topic authority development.

Marketing professionals now face unprecedented challenges as 45% of SEO professionals report being "scared out of their minds" about AI Mode's impact on search visibility. The homepage button placement increases AI Mode adoption likelihood, potentially accelerating traffic pattern changes that have already affected publishers.

Search behavior analytics reveal that AI Mode users engage with longer, more complex queries requiring synthesized responses from multiple sources. This shift demands content strategies that anticipate sophisticated user inquiries rather than focusing solely on simple keyword matches.

Content creators must adapt to new technical requirements, including robots meta tag specifications that control how AI systems utilize their content. Publishers can now prevent their content from appearing in AI Mode responses through specific meta tag implementations.

The homepage button's prominent placement signals Google's commitment to AI-powered search as the future of information discovery. Marketing teams should prepare for continued expansion of AI Mode features and corresponding changes to traditional search result visibility patterns.

Timeline

• March 5, 2025: Google announces AI Mode as experimental feature in Search Labs with robots meta tag documentation updates

• April 7, 2025: Google expands multimodal capabilities in AI Mode, enabling image search functionality with Gemini 2.0 technology

• May 1, 2025: Google opens AI Mode to all US users by removing waitlist restrictions and adding visual place and product cards

• May 13, 2025: Google begins testing AI Mode button replacing "I'm Feeling Lucky" on homepage

• May 20, 2025: Google expands AI Mode to all United States users, eliminating Google One AI Premium subscriber requirements

• May 27, 2025: Google CEO predicts web transformation as AI agents reshape browsing patterns during I/O conference interview

• May 30, 2025: SEO professionals express widespread fear over AI Mode rollout with 45% reporting significant anxiety about industry changes

• June 11, 2025: Google begins testing AI Mode button directly in homepage search bar alongside existing shortcuts