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Google AI Mode Isn’t Taking Over Search—Yet

Search Isn’t Going Full AI
by Outreach Bee Editor

A few writers went wild when Logan Kilpatrick hinted AI Mode was “soon” becoming the default. I get it: change feels thrilling. But… hold your horses.

Riding the AI Hype Train

In May 2025, Liz Reid teased that AI Mode was the future of Google Search. Then Logan Kilpatrick chimed in on X, suggesting we’d all be using it soon as our main interface. Cue the fireworks. Search optimizers everywhere started brainstorming: Would the old blue links vanish altogether? Could we kiss traditional SERPs goodbye forever? But here we are, months later, realizing that those fireworks were more of a sparkler than a rocket.

The Truth About AI Mode’s Role

So what’s really going on beneath the hood? AI Mode isn’t some half-baked experiment. It’s built on a “query fan-out” technique—firing off multiple related searches at once, then weaving them into a single, meaty answer. You ask a complex question; instead of dozens of links, you get a consolidated response. And yes, you can chat with it, feed it images, even use voice queries. Sounds neat, right? But neat doesn’t automatically equal universal readiness.

Google’s VP Robby Stein recently stepped in to cool the jets. He reminded everyone: the aim is choice, not coercion. If you crave traditional search—the reliable ladder of blue links—carry on. If you want AI Mode’s deep-dive summaries, it’s right there at google.com/ai. In short, AI Mode remains optional. For now.

Google isn’t force-feeding AI Mode.

Why SEOs Should Care (or Shouldn’t Panic)

I’ll admit, my palms got sweaty at first. As an SEO professional, I’m wired to adapt at the drop of an algorithmic hat. But let’s pause. Do we really need to flip our entire playbook this minute? Maybe not. Yes, AI Mode represents a new frontier—multimodal inputs, conversational follow-ups, you name it—but it’s not the whole search universe.

I still remember when mobile-first indexing dropped—a brutal wake-up call. We panicked, we rebuilt sites overnight, and eventually life went on. Same script, different chapter.

Those who moan about every update miss the fun: the challenge. If you’re not rolling up your sleeves to test and experiment, you’ll get left behind regardless.

Embracing the Middle Ground

Isn’t technology grand? Every now and then there are so many new features to try. Yet, it would be naïve to abandon what already works. I’ll keep crafting for classic results while sneaking peeks at AI Mode’s output. After all, variety is the spice of life—and of SEO.

Maybe I’m overthinking it. Or maybe this balance is precisely what Google intended: let us explore at our own pace. No pressure, no forced migration. Just options.

What do you think? Are you already tinkering with AI Mode, or is the “old normal” still your comfort zone? Drop your thoughts below, share your wildest search predictions, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn for more SEO escapades.

Before you go, check our Yahoo search engine overview and its features. And Google quietly admits the open web is shrinking—here’s why that matters.

Sources:

  • www.searchengineland.com/google-ai-mode-may-become-the-default-google-search-experience-soon-461649
  • www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-default-40067.html