Google Makes Search Experience Better with Intelligent Search Box and Agentic Capabilities
In Focus
- The Intelligent Search Box expands to accommodate longer queries
- Search agents update users about topics or information that matters to them
- Gemini 3.5 Flash is now the default model in AI Mode in Search
Google is rebuilding Search around AI. Rather than a one-time retrieval tool, Google is repositioning Search as an ongoing service. One that’s capable of tracking information, summarizing developments, organizing tasks, and applying context across search sessions. While introducing the new Google AI Search experience at the I/O 2026 event, the company said changes include a reimagined “Intelligent Search Box”. Google described the new search box as the biggest change it has implemented over the last 25 years.
How is Google Search Changing?
Google’s AI Search update at I/O included various changes. The company announced that it had made Gemini 3.5 Flash the default model in AI Mode in Search. According to Google, Gemini 3.5 Flash offers higher performance speeds while supporting agents.
Its deployment in Search will likely increase efficiency, offering a better experience to users.
Google appears to be moving away from keywords in Search. Its newly launched Intelligent Search Box gives users access to AI tools that enable them to ask questions with ease.
The tools not only autocomplete queries, they also help users to craft more complex questions. Additionally, users don’t have to decide what they want to search before entering a query. The search box supports conversational search on Google because it expands to accommodate longer queries.
“It’s more intuitive than ever, dynamically expanding to give you space to describe exactly what you need. Designed to anticipate your intent, it also helps you formulate your question with AI-powered suggestions that go beyond autocomplete. And you can search across modalities, using text, images, files, videos or Chrome tabs as inputs,” Google VP for Search, Elizabeth Reid stated in a blog post.
Agentic Capabilities in Google Search
Google has added agentic features to the Search experience. With these capabilities, users will spend less time clicking blue links that Google Search previously displayed. Beginning June this year, users can create, customize, and even manage several information agents in Google Search.
“Operating in the background, 24/7, these agents intelligently reason across information to find exactly what you need at exactly the right moment,” Reid added.
The search agents update users about topics or information that matters to them. For instance, a user can deploy an agent to track market changes based on customer parameters. Such an agent searches everything on the web, including real-time data to identify changes. The idea of bringing agentic capabilities to Search means that web searches will be conducted by AI agents, while humans act on the information surfaced by the tools.
Personalized AI Mode Experience
Google has expanded its Personal Intelligence tools in AI Mode in Search. The tools, which were designed to give users choice and control, allow users to connect applications like Google Photos and Gmail. Users decide when they want to connect the apps. The tech company said Personal Intelligence will now be accessible to users in about 200 countries at no cost.
