Google’s AI-powered search interface, known as AI Mode, could soon replace the traditional search experience as the default option, according to comments from a senior company executive.
Google hints at AI Mode becoming default
On 5 September, Logan Kilpatrick, lead product manager at Google, responded on X to a user asking when AI Mode would become the default experience. His reply was brief but revealing: “Soon.”
It must be the default. I know it’s scary, but one more click means infinity.
— BURKOV (@burkov) September 5, 2025
This is Google’s Kodak moment. I hope you learned from history books.
This aligns with earlier signals from the company. In May 2025, Liz Reid, head of Google Search, announced that AI Mode represented the future of Google Search. Kilpatrick’s latest comments suggest that this transition may be closer than expected.
Google has already introduced a direct shortcut to its new AI-driven search. The link google.com/ai now takes users straight to AI Mode, eliminating the need to visit the homepage and manually select the AI tab.
What AI Mode offers
AI Mode is designed to provide users with a more comprehensive and conversational search experience. It uses a “query fan-out” technique, which runs multiple related searches at the same time across different subtopics and data sources. These results are then combined into a single response that Google says delivers “more breadth and depth of information than a traditional search on Google.”
The feature supports multimodal inputs, meaning users can search using text, voice, or images. It also includes conversational tools for follow-up questions, similar to Google’s AI Overviews and Gemini.
Google has already rolled out AI Mode to users in 180 countries and territories, with recent expansions covering the UK, India, and the US. According to the company, the tool is particularly effective for queries that involve exploration, reasoning, or comparisons.
Impact on search and SEO
While AI Mode offers new opportunities for users, its rise has raised concerns within the search optimisation community. Search data from AI Mode is currently included within Google Search Console, but it is not separated from traditional search results. This makes it difficult for website owners to track and analyse how their content performs in the new interface.
Industry experts warn that if AI Mode becomes the default, it could significantly reshape the future of search engine optimisation (SEO). Traditional search may no longer dominate, pushing businesses and marketers to rethink their strategies.
Commentators stress the importance of adaptation. As one analysis put it, “If you do not adapt, you will die. SEO won’t die, but you will become irrelevant.” The sentiment reflects the broader view that while the transition may be disruptive, the SEO community has a history of embracing change and developing new tactics.
However, not all voices within Google agree that a switch to default AI Mode is imminent. Robby Stein, vice president at Google, cautioned against over-interpreting Kilpatrick’s comment. He wrote, “wouldn’t read too much into this. We’re focusing on making it easy to access AI Mode for those who want it.”
Google AI Mode to be "default" Google Search "Soon" Google’s @OfficialLoganK said after @rmstein and Google launched https://t.co/Ez0uub6j6E URL for Google AI Mode late Friday https://t.co/use5pMkRbl pic.twitter.com/xgtVLt8jz8
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) September 7, 2025
The uncertainty leaves open questions about the pace of the shift, but the overall direction remains clear: AI Mode is set to play a central role in Google’s vision for the future of search.
