Spain has incorporated Google's AI Mode into its search engine starting today , a significant step that introduces AI-generated answers into the search experience. This new feature is presented as an additional option, geared towards longer queries, with nuanced answers and the possibility of dialogue.
This launch is part of an international expansion that reaches nearly 50 new countries and 36 languages , with a presence already in more than 200 territories. The company states that the system better understands context and allows for in-depth exploration with follow-up questions, offering summaries, links, and multimodal results all in one place.
What it is and how to activate it on Google
AI Mode appears as a button or tab at the top of Search, alongside sections like "All," "News," and "Images." When activated, it transforms the experience into a conversation with Gemini 's models , which synthesize relevant information from the web and present it in a structured way.
The same feature is available in the Google app for Android and iOS , so it can be used on both mobile and desktop. For now, traditional search remains the default behavior, but AI Mode is prominently displayed for easy access whenever the user wants to use it.
In practice, the user receives an expanded response that includes text, images, and, where appropriate, comparisons or lists. Along with this explanation, Google maintains links to consulted sources so that anyone can find more information or compare the data with external content.
The company presents this feature as its most advanced AI-assisted search experience to date, boasting greater reasoning capabilities and contextual understanding. Google management suggests this approach will shape the product's direction in the medium term, though it will coexist with the traditional search method.
During the initial tests, those using conversational mode sent queries two or three times longer than those of the traditional search, indicating a more descriptive and elaborate use of questions.
Key features: complex questions, tracking, and multimodality
One of the major differences lies in its ability to handle complex or open-ended questions , where there isn't a single correct answer. The system supports questions with multiple parts and allows for continued discussion with follow-up questions, refining the outcome step by step.
AI Mode is multimodal , so it understands text, voice, and image input. For example, you can photograph a restaurant menu to identify dishes or request contextual clarifications, which is useful when traveling or in everyday situations where it's helpful to "see" the content.
To provide more robust answers, Google explains that it uses a query decomposition technique : it divides the question into subtopics and launches simultaneous searches to cover different angles. This allows it to "navigate" the web more thoroughly and generate more detailed answers.
The tool also offers links to resources that have served as the basis for the summary, with the aim of allowing the user to visit specialized sites, blogs or media and expand on what they see in the AI-generated result.
The latest Gemini models are behind these capabilities, with improvements in reasoning and context. This translates into more comprehensive responses when the topic calls for it and the ability to move from a general question to a more specific one without having to start from scratch.
Availability, languages and deployment schedule
The rollout begins today in Spain and a wide range of markets, with an estimated window of several days before it reaches everyone within the included regions. The company indicates that full activation may take around a week.
In addition to its launch in Europe, AI Mode now supports 36 new languages , including Spanish, and expands its availability to over 200 countries and territories. The inclusion of the European market suggests that the tool is compliant with more stringent regulatory frameworks.
The AI Mode tab will be prominently displayed in the Search interface and in the app, though the user retains full control to use both the traditional and AI-assisted approaches. No subscription or additional sign-up process is required to try it.
Google claims to have observed increased interaction among users who activate conversational mode, with higher levels of activity in initial use. The company maintains that the resulting data helps reduce steps in planning, learning, or comparison tasks.
In case of low confidence, the system may choose to display the classic set of results, prioritizing the diversity of sources and verification before proposing an AI-generated answer.
Consequences for the open web, media and commerce
The big question is how this will affect website visibility . External research on previous experiences, such as Chrome's mode , suggests fewer clicks to third-party pages; some reports place click-through rates at low percentages or point to significant decreases in traffic in certain categories.
Google clarifies that they are not seeing widespread drops in traffic and that, when clicks do occur, they are of higher quality: users who spend more time, bounce less and arrive with a clearer intention.
For publishers and businesses, AI Mode includes links to sources in the responses, which, according to the company, makes it easier to discover valuable content. Even so, some in the industry fear that users will find the summary sufficient and won't need to visit the original source.
In parallel, Google is testing specific ad formats associated with the new mode, currently in the United States. The intention is to fine-tune the integration before its expansion, ensuring that advertising doesn't distort the usefulness of the AI-generated results.
The shift towards a more conversational and concise search experience represents a change in habits for both users and content creators. As the rollout progresses, the market will closely observe actual click behavior and the role fonts will play in the new interface.
With its arrival in Spain, AI Mode is positioned as a fast track for complex queries , capable of combining text, voice, and image and holding a conversation that delves deeper into each topic. The dedicated button in Search and the app makes it easy to link questions, obtain comparisons, and jump to sources when more in-depth information is needed, while the digital sector evaluates the impact on traffic and business models that depend on the open web.