Google Doodle introduces AI Mode to enhance user interaction
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On July 1, 2025, Google made headlines with the debut of its AI Mode, an experimental feature designed to enhance the traditional search experience. By using an animated Google Doodle to introduce this project, Google highlighted its commitment to weaving generative AI deeper into everyday tools. Users can now interact with the search bar in entirely new ways, relying on Gemini 2.5, Google’s latest AI model, to handle multimodal prompts and deliver more context-aware answers.
Features of AI Mode
At its core, AI Mode gives Google Search a powerful upgrade. Instead of relying only on text input, users can now prompt the system with spoken commands and even images. This multimodal capability means that queries can be more fluid and better reflect how people naturally seek information.
The model’s conversational approach adds another layer to the search experience. Users can clarify questions in real time or ask follow-ups without starting over. In some cases, AI Mode performs tasks that go beyond providing information, like making bookings or offering recommendations that pull from personal context when available. While the feature is currently limited to users in the United States and testing in India, the wider rollout could change how billions engage with Google daily.
Promotion through Google Doodle
To mark the launch, Google turned its iconic Doodle into an entry point for AI Mode. Visitors to Google’s homepage on July 1 were met with an animated design inviting them to try the experiment. The Doodle did more than entertain; it nudged users to test the new AI capabilities firsthand, merging art and technology in a uniquely accessible way.
Google has a history of using Doodles to spotlight innovation and milestones. This time, the company used it to bridge the gap between AI research and everyday use. By integrating AI Mode with something as familiar as the Doodle, Google lowered the barrier to experimentation, encouraging millions to see how generative AI can assist with tasks both simple and complex.
User interaction and creativity
AI Mode is also linked to Google Labs, where users can find additional experiments that blend creativity and machine learning. Early feedback suggests that users appreciate the playful aspect of designing their own Doodles or prompts, transforming the search engine from a static tool into an interactive canvas.
While some experiments, like Doppl and Flow, remain in testing, they hint at how Google might expand AI features to other products. By encouraging user-generated content and providing easy ways to share creations, Google positions itself as more than just a search provider. It becomes a partner in creativity, learning and daily problem-solving.
As the company refines AI Mode, more personalization and proactive capabilities are expected to arrive. Google has signaled that future updates will make it easier for users to complete tasks directly within search, with less friction and greater relevance.
Whether these AI-powered features will change user behavior for good remains to be seen. However, the introduction of AI Mode through something as familiar as a Doodle demonstrates Google’s strategy: use small, accessible experiments to test bold ideas.
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