Google’s AI Mode Now Supports Voice Chats With New ‘Search Live’ Feature

Google is launching an experimental Search Live feature in its new AI mode that lets mobile users search with their voice. Search Live in the Google mobile app uses a custom version of Google’s Gemini chatbot, and it can keep working in the background when users switch to another app.

Google’s new AI Mode is currently available for all US users via the company’s Search Labs portal. When enabled, AI mode is available right from the search bar in the Google mobile app (it’s a separate tab on the desktop version of Google Search), and it lets users ask complex questions using natural language. Search Live, however, appears as a new icon directly under the search bar.

With Search Live, users of the Google mobile app can have voice conversations with the search engine. Below its AI-generated audio responses, Search Live also displays a carousel of web links allowing users to dive deeper. A transcript button also lets users read Google’s responses, which will also be saved in the AI Mode history.

“Our custom model is built on Search’s best-in-class quality and information systems, so you still get reliable, helpful responses no matter where, or how, you’re asking your question. Search Live with voice also uses our query fan-out technique to show you a wider and more diverse set of helpful web content, enabling new opportunities for exploration,” Google explained yesterday.

Google is planning to add camera support to this new Search Live feature, which will allow the search engine to answer questions about what users are seeing. The Google Gemini app has a similar camera sharing feature, and it’s now free to use for all Android users.