19 Sources
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Google's AI Mode can now have back-and-forth voice conversations | TechCrunch
Google is rolling out the ability for users to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with AI Mode, its experimental Search feature that lets users ask complex, multi-part questions. With the new Search Live integration, users can have a free-flowing voice conversation with Search and explore links from across the web. Users will be able to access the feature by opening the Google app and tapping the new "Live" icon to ask their question aloud. They will then hear an AI-generated audio response, and they can follow up with another question. Today's announcement comes a few weeks after Google rolled out AI Mode to everyone in the U.S. The launch of the feature was seen as Google's answer to popular services like Perplexity AI and OpenAI's ChatGPT Search. With this new update, Google is looking to take on those services' respective voice modes. Google says the feature will be useful in instances where you're on to go or multitasking. For example, if you're packing for a trip, you can ask a question like "What are some tips for preventing a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?" You could follow up with another question like "What should I do if it still wrinkles?" As you're having the conversation, you'll find links right on your screen if you want to dig deeper into your search. Since Search Live works in the background, you can continue the conversation while in another app. Plus, you have the option to tap the "transcript" button to view the text response and continue to ask questions by typing if you'd like to. You can also revisit a Search Live response by navigating to your AI Mode history. "Behind the scenes, Search Live in AI Mode uses a custom version of Gemini with advanced voice capabilities," Liza Ma, the director of product management at Google Search, explained in a blog post. "Our custom model is built on Search's best-in-class quality and information systems, so you still get reliable, helpful responses no matter where or how you're asking your question. Search Live with voice also uses our query fan-out technique to show you a wider and more diverse set of helpful web content, enabling new opportunities for exploration." In the coming months, Google plans to bring more Live capabilities to AI Mode, including letting you ask questions based on what your phone's camera is seeing in real time, as was previewed at Google I/O in May.
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I'm Talking Back to Google's New Search Live Mode for AI Convos About Big Events
Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V Google's latest AI addition makes Google searches conversational on your phone with Search Live -- and I love being able to interrupt it. While Google's AI Mode search has been available to Google Labs participants for some time, the company rolled out the Search Live function on June 18 for iOS and Android users. You can access it through a new AI Mode icon -- a star above three audio lines. This creates an ongoing conversation with Google's search engine that's significantly different than what you could do before. Before, I could use Google's AI mode and the microphone function to ask any question, like "How can I protect my home from the summer heat?" and get a customized summary of what Gemini thinks is good advice. But it was a one-way street -- I couldn't ask follow-up questions or for more details. Search Live changes that. Search Live puts you in a constant conversation mode with Gemini's search functions. Ask something, and it will reply with an audio description while showing sites on the screen that it's pulling info from, so you can tap them to get all the details. My favorite part is that you can interrupt the audio report at any time for clarification or a different take. Search Live takes a couple of seconds to respond -- once it has, it will go on mute if you don't speak again when it's finished. In my experiments, I pushed Search Live hard by asking for the latest details of the Israel-Iran conflict, and was quickly presented with an enormous amount of spoken info about the latest missile strikes. I found that overwhelming, and quickly asked for the latest response from Israel, which yielded a more concise summary of quotes and actions. Then I asked what the take of one specific politician was, and Search Live responded not only with a summary of their general stance, but recent bipartisan legislation they had launched and a quote about the conflict from one of their recent tweets. Finally, I asked how the Israel-Iran conflict could affect mortgage rates. Gemini was pretty vague on that part, saying the issues were complex. CNET's expert finance coverage on this front goes into quite a bit more detail. As with the other features in Google's experimental AI Mode, CNET will be testing out Search Live more in the coming days to see how well it works and how it integrates with other Gemini-related search capabilities, like letting you digitally try on clothes with a voice command. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Google tests real-time AI voice chats in Search
Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Google is building Search Live into AI Mode, allowing you to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with the company's AI chatbot right from its search engine. The test, which is rolling out now to Labs users in the US, currently doesn't support camera-sharing, but Google plans to add the capability in the "coming months." Search Live lets you interact with the company's "custom" version of Gemini and search the web in real time. The feature currently lives in the Google app on Android and iOS, where it takes things a step further by giving you the ability to point your camera at something and ask questions about it out loud. Google first announced plans to bring Search Live to AI Mode, the AI-powered search feature that just rolled out to everyone in the US, last month. It's all part of Google's larger transformation of its search engine, which is also experimenting with putting podcast-like Audio Overviews into your search results. You can try out Search Live in AI Mode by opting into the AI Mode experiment in Google Labs. From there, head to the Google app on Android or iOS and tap the new "Live" icon. You can then ask a question out loud, like "What are some tips for preventing a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?" The AI chatbot will provide an audio response that you can reply to with another related question, like "What should I do if it still wrinkles?" Search Live will also present you with relevant links as you chat. Other AI companies have spent time building out voice modes for their AI models as well, with OpenAI launching an Advanced Voice Mode in ChatGPT last year and Anthropic rolling out a voice mode for its Claude app in May. Apple is also working on an "LLM Siri," but its rollout was delayed because the company wasn't able to "achieve the reliability" that it wanted, according to Apple software SVP Craig Federighi. Google says Search Live operates in the background, letting you continue your conversation with the chatbot when navigating to other apps. You can also tap the "transcript" button to see a text version of the response and reply by typing. Google will save past Search Live conversations in your AI Mode history.
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Want to Talk to Google Search? You Should Try This AI Feature Now
Google is testing a new voice chat feature for Search. Called Search Live, the feature is built into AI Mode and allows users to have a real-time, back-and-forth verbal conversation with Google's Search tools. You may be familiar with the experience if you have tried Gemini Live or ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode. To test the feature, sign up for AI Mode via Google Labs. It currently supports English and is limited to users in the US. Once you do that, a new Live icon should appear under the Search bar in the Google app for Android and iOS. It's the left-most icon under Search. Tapping that would open up a new window where you can drop your verbal queries. You can ask a question, wait for the AI to respond, and then ask follow-up questions if required. Responses will include links to relevant sources. Search Live works in the background, so you can switch apps without affecting your ongoing conversation. You can also tap on the Transcript button at the bottom to get a full text of what you just talked about. If you need to pick up from where you left off previously, you can enter the same chat by visiting your AI Mode history. Like most AI products from Google, Search Live also uses a customized version of Gemini. Soon, Google plans to integrate more Gemini features, like using your camera to ask Search questions about what's in front of you. The AI Mode, on the other hand, is now available for all users in the US -- even for those who didn't sign up for the experiment. In essence, it mimics AI chatbots to provide more conversational and curated responses.
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Google's AI-powered Search Live feature is here to further cannibalize the internet
You'll be able to have a back-and-forth conversation with Google through its new AI feature. Google's Search Live feature with voice input is now available on its app for iOS and Android in the US. You'll have to opt in to AI Mode in Labs to be able to access it, but after you do, you'll be able to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with Search. To use the feature, open the Google app and tap on the new Live icon to verbally ask a question. Google will respond with AI-generated audio, as well, and you'll be able to ask follow-up questions naturally. Under the hood, the feature is powered by a custom version of Gemini with advanced voice capabilities. The company says it's the perfect feature for when you're on the go or multitasking, like packing a bag. In the example Google used, the user asked Search how to prevent linen dresses from wrinkling in a suitcase and Gemini responded verbally. The user then asked a couple of follow-up questions without having to exit the Search Live screen or having to tap the Live icon again. You can continue your chat even if you open another app, and you can also see a transcript of Google's responses and then type in more questions if you want to shift to written conversation. While the feature has the potential to be a convenient tool, the sources Google takes its information from might not see any traffic from the interaction. Google does show links from across the web on the Search Live screen, but they're displayed in tiny cards and can completely be ignored if the user is indeed doing something else while talking to Gemini. In the coming months, the company is expanding Search Live with the capability to show and ask Search about what you're seeing in real time. Google announced that particular ability at I/O this year. As an example, Google said you can show Search a difficult math problem and ask it to help you solve it or to explain a concept you're having difficulty grasping.
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Google Search's AI Mode gets chatty with its new Search Live feature
Google previewed a new voice search experience called Search Live at I/O this year. Like Gemini Live, this new feature lets users have a natural, back-and-forth conversation with Google Search and ask follow-up questions. Search Live rolled out to a few users in the Google app for iOS earlier this month, and Google has now announced broader availability for US users on Android and iOS. Search Live is available as part of the AI Mode experiment in Labs. You can try it out by tapping the new "Live" icon in the Google app and asking questions like, "What are some tips for preventing a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?" Search Live will offer an AI-generated audio response, and you can ask follow-up questions if you need additional information. The feature also gives you access to relevant links from across the web, making it easy for you to delve deeper.
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You can now have a full-fledged conversation with Google Search
There's a lot of overlap across several of Google's key tools. Circle to Search and Google Lens are similar tools that fulfill adjacent needs. Then add Gemini Live's camera mode to the mix, and the lines get blurrier. In a similar vein, the tech giant's latest AI Mode is essentially a more in-depth version of Google Search, letting users dive deeper into their queries, complete with support for asking conversational follow-up queries. Now, Google is blurring the lines even further by introducing a new AI Mode feature -- one that pairs Gemini Live with it. 10:15 Related Google's really going AI Mode now [Video] And is there any turning back? Posts Unveiled earlier this year in May, the tech giant is now integrating Gemini Live's voice conversation capabilities into AI Mode. The new tool, which has been aptly named Search Live, is rolling out now to US Google app users on Android and iOS. This means users can now verbally pose their queries directly using the search tool and get AI-generated audio responses that are conversational in nature and allow you to pose follow-up questions. It isn't entirely clear if AI Mode's Search Live runs on a different model than Gemini Live. "Search Live in AI Mode uses a custom version of Gemini with advanced voice capabilities," wrote the tech giant. If the new integration is essentially just a port of Gemini Live, then users might just be better off accessing Live capabilities directly from Gemini. In contrast, for users that never hopped on the AI chatbot train and primarily utilized the Google app for queries, the new integration should offer an intuitive and easy-to-use entry point into conversational AI. You need to opt in to try Search Live For now, the new integration is limited to voice queries, but Google says it intends to bring the full suite of Project Astra's camera view functionality to AI mode "in the coming months," which should make AI Mode a lot more versatile. For what it's worth, accessing the new feature still requires you to opt-in. Here's how you can do that: Mobile Open the Google app on your smartphone. Tap the Labs button (flask icon) on the top-left. Navigate to the AI experiments section. Tap Turn on under AI Mode. Desktop Head to the Google Labs website. Under AI experiments, turn on AI Mode. Source: Google Once you've opted in, you should see a dedicated Search Live icon under the Google app's search bar, as seen in the images above. Users will be able to tap the 'transcript' button to continue the conversation silently, or head to their AI Mode history to hop back into a previous search. Are you excited about trying out Search Live in the Google app? Or will you limit your conversational queries to Gemini Live? Let us know in the comments below!
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Google AI Mode now lets you test and talk to Search Live
Following the I/O 2025 announcement and early availability for some, Google is now letting AI Mode users test Search Live with voice input. Search Live lets you have a back-and-forth conversation with Google Search that supports follow-up questions in both directions. For example: Once available, tap the new waveform badged by a sparkle icon underneath the Search bar. It's the same icon as Gemini Live, while you can also access it with a new button to the right of the text field. This launches a fullscreen light or dark interface with the new gradient 'G' in the top-left corner and an arc-shaped waveform in the AI Mode colors. There's a pill-shaped Mute/Unmute button at the bottom along with "Transcript" to open the AI Mode text chat. When you ask questions, Search Live will surface links that you can scroll through as part of its response. You can open another app or lock your screen, and continue the conversation with Search Live in the background. There's a close 'x' in the corner, while the overflow button lets you access Search history and Voice settings, with four options: Cassini, Cosmo, Neso, and Terra. Behind-the-scenes, Search Live is powered by a "custom version of Gemini with advanced voice capabilities." Our custom model is built on Search's best-in-class quality and information systems, so you still get reliable, helpful responses no matter where, or how, you're asking your question. Search Live with voice also uses our query fan-out technique to show you a wider and more diverse set of helpful web content, enabling new opportunities for exploration. In announcing general model availability yesterday, Google said Search uses "custom versions of 2.5 Flash-Lite and Flash." Search Live with voice input is now available in the Google app on Android and iOS if you're enrolled in the "AI Mode" Search Lab in the US. Camera capabilities are coming to Search Live "in the coming months."
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Google just launched 'Search Live' -- here's why you'll want to try it
If you've ever wished you could just talk to Google Search the way you do with ChatGPT or Gemini Live, I've got good news: starting today, you can if you're in the United States. Google has officially rolled out a new feature called Search Live with voice support inside AI Mode, giving users the ability to have a free-flowing, back-and-forth conversation with Search. If you're enrolled in the AI Mode experiment in Labs, you'll now see a "Live" icon in the Google app on Android or iOS. Tap it, start talking, and Google will respond with an AI-generated voice answer. Even better, the conversation stays open, so you can ask follow-up questions naturally, just like you would with a chatbot. For example, if you ask "What are some tips for packing for a weekend getaway?" you'll get a spoken answer and links to helpful web pages right on your screen. If you want to dig deeper, just ask another question, no need to start a new search or tap around. No need to keep Google open, you can switch over to another app while continuing the voice conversation. There's also a "transcript" button so you can see the text version of the conversation and even type responses if needed. This is useful if you want to recall important parts of the conversations to refer to later. Behind the scenes, Google says this experience is powered by a custom version of Gemini with advanced voice capabilities, combined with Search's existing information systems. That means you still get the familiar reliability of Search, but with the added convenience of natural voice conversation. You'll need to opt in to the AI Mode experiment in Labs within the Google app on Android and iOS. Once you do, just tap the new Live icon under the search bar and start chatting. In typical Google fashion, there's more to come. In the months ahead, Google plans to add new features like camera-based interaction, meaning you'll soon be able to "show" Search what you're seeing and continue the conversation in real time. It's another sign that Google is steadily moving toward a more conversational, multimodal version of Search; one that could eventually feel a lot more like an AI assistant than a traditional search engine.
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Google's AI Mode search tool gets a voice
Google's AI Mode is morphing into a search function you can talk to. On Wednesday, the search giant introduced a new Search Live voice feature for the AI search tool, which combines Google Search with the AI chatbot experience. This was previewed at Google I/O as Project Astra from the Google DeepMind team. The demo features a bike mechanic "going live" with the research prototype on his phone and asking it to look up specific information from a user manual. The feature launching today is the voice part, but Google says live camera support will launch in the "coming months." Google also added that when you've activated Search Live, it works in the background of your phone, so you can keep talking to it and searching even while you're using other apps. A version of this voice mode already exists in the Gemini app, called Gemini Live. But starting today, the underlying Gemini voice capability comes directly to search. Search Live with voice input is available in the Google mobile app for Android and iOS. That said, users have to be based in the U.S. and enrolled in the AI Mode experiment in Labs to try it out. Note: AI Mode is live and open to the public, but you need to opt into the AI Mode Labs experiment in order to access Search Live. At this year's Google I/O, the company officially ushered in a new era of search with the public release of AI Mode. But this has been building for a while. It started with AI Overviews, grew with an AI-generated version of the People Also Ask (PAA) feature, and now includes AI Mode, which is a chatbot interface right within the search page. Google Search is no longer a place to find to links to sites with the information you need; it's now an AI-powered search engine that looks more like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Meanwhile, this is throttling traffic to outbound sites, according to publishers. With expanded capabilities like voice support and camera support soon to come, Google looks to make AI Mode more than a search tool, but an AI companion. "This is perfect for when you're on the go or multitasking, like if you're packing for a trip," said Google in the announcement. You can verbally ask it for tips on how to prevent clothes from getting wrinkled in a suitcase, for example. Once you're enrolled in the AI Mode experiment in Labs, you can try out Search Live in the Google app by tapping the new icon directly under the search bar.
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I tried Google's new Search Live feature and ended up debating an AI about books
Google is keen to have all roads lead to Gemini, and Search Live could help entice people to try the AI companion without realizing it Google's quest to incorporate its Gemini into everything has a new outlet linked to its most central product. The new Google Search Live essentially gives Google Search's AI Mode a Gemini-powered voice. It's currently available to users in the U.S. via the Google app on iOS and Android, and it invites you to literally talk to your search bar. You speak, and it speaks back; unlike the half-hearted AI assistants of yesteryear, this one doesn't stop listening after just one question. It's a full dialogue partner, unlike the non-verbal AI Mode. It also works in the background, which means I could leave the app during the chat to do something else on my phone, and the audio didn't pause or glitch. It just kept going, as if I were on the phone with someone. Google refers to this system as "query fan-out," which means that instead of just answering your question, it also quietly considers related queries, drawing in more diverse sources and perspectives. You feel it, too. The answers don't feel boxed into a single form of response, even on relatively straightforward queries like the one about linen dresses in Google's demo. To test Search Live out, I tapped the "Live" icon and asked for speculative fiction books I should read this summer. The genial voice offered a few classic and a few more recent options. I then opened Pandora's box by asking it about its own favorites. Surprisingly, it had a few. I then decided to push it a bit and tell it it was wrong about the best fantasy books and listed a few of my own. Suddenly, I found myself in a debate not only about the best examples of the genre, but also about how to define it. We segued from there to philosophical and historical opinions about elvish empathy and whether AI should be compared to genies or the mythical brownies that do housework in exchange for cream. Were it not for the smooth, synthetic voice and its relentless good cheer, I might have thought I was actually having an idle argument with an acquaintance over nothing important. It's obviously very different from the classic Google Search and its wall of links. If you look at the screen, you still see the links, but the focus is on the talk. Google isn't unique with a vocal version of its AI, as ChatGPT and others proffer similar features. Google Search Live does come off as smoother, and I didn't have to rephrase my questions or repeat myself once in 10 minutes. Being integrated with Google's actual search systems might help keep things grounded. It's like talking to someone who always has a stack of citations in their back pocket. I don't think Search Live is what people will use to replace their usual online search methods, but here's a real accessibility benefit to it. For people who can't comfortably type or see, voice-first tools like this open new doors. Same goes for kids asking homework questions, or for someone cooking dinner who has a random question but doesn't want to pause to wipe flour off their screen. There's a tradeoff, of course, in terms of how people browse the web. If this kind of conversational AI becomes the dominant interface for search on Google, what happens to web traffic? Publishers already feel like they're shouting into the void when their content is skimmed by AI and hiring lawyers to fight it. What will the AI search if its sources shrink or vanish? It's a complicated question, worthy of debate. I'll have to see how Search Live lays out the arguments.
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Search Live: Talk, listen and explore in real time with AI Mode
Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental. Today we're launching Search Live with voice input in the Google app for Android and iOS. Available in the U.S. for users enrolled in the AI Mode experiment in Labs, you can now have a free-flowing, back-and-forth voice conversation with Search and explore links from across the web. This is perfect for when you're on the go or multitasking, like if you're packing for a trip. Simply open the Google app, tap the new "Live" icon and verbally ask your question, like, "What are some tips for preventing a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?" You'll hear a helpful AI-generated audio response and you can easily follow up with another question, like, "What should I do if it still wrinkles?" You'll also find easy-to-access links right on your screen so you can dig deeper with content from the web.
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I Tried Google's Conversation Feature for AI Mode, and I'm Not Sure Who It's For
If you've spent any time googling over the past month or so, you might have noticed Google pushing a brand-new feature: AI Mode. AI Mode essentially brings an AI chatbot web search to Google Search. (If you've ever used ChatGPT or Gemini to look something up, you might be familiar.) AI Mode takes your query and performs multiple searches at once, combining the results in one final "report." Google's big idea for AI Mode is to enable quick yet thorough results for complex, multi-part searches. Let's say you're planning a vacation to California. Instead of performing one search for hotels, another search for theme parks, and multiple searches for restaurants, you can theoretically tell AI Mode everything you want in a trip, and it will theoretically deliver those results to you. Of course, this is AI we're talking about, so there's plenty of room for error. To that point: Similar AI Overviews, AI Mode cites its sources, so you can follow up and make sure it didn't hallucinate any of its answers. It's a technology that comes with several caveats: Are the results I'm getting accurate? Am I taking traffic away from the sites that provide the information to the AI in the first place? Google doesn't really want to focus on that. Instead, it wants to make AI search even easier to use -- if you find talking to your search engine easy, that is. Google is now rolling out a new "Search Live" feature for AI Mode. When the feature is live on your end, you'll be able to turn it on from AI Mode, via a new button showing a waveform with a star. Once opened, you can start asking your questions out loud. The AI will take what you say as if you're typing out a search, and when you're done, will process that search and deliver its results out loud in turn. You'll be able to see the sources comprising those results in the middle of the screen, which includes both articles as well as videos. You can scroll through all sources, and tap through to any if you want to read or watch more. In theory, it should work. In practice, though, I'm not a fan. For context, I only see this feature in the Google app on my end, not in AI Mode on desktop. When I tried the feature this morning, it worked just about as expected. I threw some random queries off the top of my head (e.g. "tell me about George Washington's military career"), and the AI followed suit. It did a decent job at offering an opportunity for follow-up questions, by listing off key facts about my query, and asking if I wanted to know more about any of them individually. An immediate problem, however, was that, unlike a typical Google search, any time my attention was diverted, I missed information. There's no pause button, and while you can interrupt the AI by speaking, it's not easy to get it to repeat itself. Google has a new feature that reads out an AI-generated "podcast" of your search results, complete with a pause button. Search Live is not that. If you missed the info, you missed it, and your best bet is to simply repeat your search to hear it from the top. That said, you can hit a "transcript" button if you'd rather just review the text version of the bot's answer, but then maybe you should have just been relying on text-based search from the start. That said, the live sources feed is useful -- at times. It's helpful to be able to scan through the list as the AI is talking, to see where the information is coming from. I asked it how we knew the moon landing was real, and it provided (mostly) official, trustworthy sources, like NASA, the BBC, and a variety of universities. It did, however, cite a random Facebook post, and while I appreciate that post affirmed the moon landing was not faked, it does concern me that the AI is taking some dude's mini-essay with 13 likes as gospel. One can only imagine the implications of using any random (potentially misinformed) Facebook post as a "source" for an AI-generated result -- especially if the user asking the question doesn't bother to follow up on those sources. After experimenting with the feature this morning, I'm just left a bit puzzled. Who is this for? Sure, it's novel, but it's not particularly convenient. I get that it's "futuristic" to ask your tech questions, and have it answer back out loud, but I don't think that works well for Search. I honestly get it more for voice modes for chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini. There, the idea is to actually have a conversation -- even if I struggle to imagine wanting to have a conversation with ChatGPT. You can have a back-and-forth, bounce ideas between parties. But with Search, you're presumably trying to get information on a topic, and, to me, it's so much easier to absorb that information when it's presented in front of you than when it's read off quickly, with no live transcript to boot. Sure, you can exit the voice mode for that transcript, but that's not particularly convenient. It feels like a feature that isn't quite ready yet. Part of the problem is that Search Live doesn't have the conversational intelligence of other chatbots' voice modes, which makes these back-and-forths a bit too clunky. If you miss something, and could ask the AI to back up 10 seconds or so, for example, that'd be helpful. But I think the most damning thing about this particular way of searching the web is the accuracy problem. Using AI is difficult enough when you have to fact check everything it says -- why would I want to rely on an audio stream of information, especially if I'm in a situation where I can't follow up on the sources? When you agree to use the feature, Google even includes a disclaimer, as many AI companies do, that reads "Search Live for AI Mode is experimental and can make mistakes." In other words, this isn't a reliable tool for looking things up. If I'm hands-free, and I ask Search Live an important question, and it spits out made-up facts, I might take those made-up facts at face value. The information I've now "learned" isn't just useless -- it could be actively harmful. I don't like a future where we all rely on a Google that spits out misinformation we take as truth. Whether it does that via text or via a "conversation" doesn't change anything for me.
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AI Mode Gets Search Live: Conversations With a Search Engine
We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. AI Mode is getting Search Live, a new way to verbally communicate with Google Search. To use it, you'll need to be enrolled in the AI Mode Experiments in Labs (link below), but once enabled, you'll be chatting with Search like some sort of wizard. Conversations With a Search Engine: Google says you can have free-flowing, back-and-forth conversations with Search and, "explore links from across the web," about virtually anything you might want. If you need tips for travel, cooking, or whatever else, you can deep dive into subjects by asking questions and getting instant answers. The feature works in the background of your phone, so you can use it while in other apps. Additionally, Google says that, "Live with voice also uses our query fan-out technique to show you a wider and more diverse set of helpful web content, enabling new opportunities for exploration." In the future, the company says that Search will soon be able to access your camera so you can show Search what you're seeing in real time. We've seen this demoed multiple times by Google. Follow the link below to get yourself enrolled and using this new featue.
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Google now talks back with Search Live
Google introduced Search Live, a new feature within the Google app for both iOS and Android. This development enables users to engage in voice conversations with the Search function, mirroring capabilities found in Gemini Live. The feature is presently accessible only to users located in the United States who are participants in the AI Mode experiment within Google Labs. Search Live facilitates a continuous, voice-based dialogue with the Google Search engine. Google characterizes this functionality as suitable for users who are actively engaged in other tasks or are in motion. To initiate a conversational search, users open the Google app, tap a designated "Live" icon, and then vocalize their query. Subsequent questions can be posed continuously as part of the ongoing interaction. The interface provides direct links on the screen, allowing users to access additional web content related to their search queries. The functionality of Search Live extends to background operation, permitting conversations to continue even when the user navigates away from the Google app to utilize other applications. An integrated "Transcript" option allows users to transition the conversational mode into a text-based format. Additionally, an "AI Mode history" feature enables users to review prior responses and resume conversations from previously accessed points. Google states that Search Live operates on a customized iteration of Gemini, engineered with advanced voice processing capabilities. Future enhancements, anticipated in the coming months, will enable users to activate their device's camera during conversations, facilitating real-time visual input, a feature consistent with Gemini Live's existing functionality.
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Google now talks back with Search Live
Google introduced Search Live, a new feature within the Google app for both iOS and Android. This development enables users to engage in voice conversations with the Search function, mirroring capabilities found in Gemini Live. The feature is presently accessible only to users located in the United States who are participants in the AI Mode experiment within Google Labs. Search Live facilitates a continuous, voice-based dialogue with the Google Search engine. Google characterizes this functionality as suitable for users who are actively engaged in other tasks or are in motion. To initiate a conversational search, users open the Google app, tap a designated "Live" icon, and then vocalize their query. Subsequent questions can be posed continuously as part of the ongoing interaction. The interface provides direct links on the screen, allowing users to access additional web content related to their search queries. The functionality of Search Live extends to background operation, permitting conversations to continue even when the user navigates away from the Google app to utilize other applications. An integrated "Transcript" option allows users to transition the conversational mode into a text-based format. Additionally, an "AI Mode history" feature enables users to review prior responses and resume conversations from previously accessed points. Google states that Search Live operates on a customized iteration of Gemini, engineered with advanced voice processing capabilities. Future enhancements, anticipated in the coming months, will enable users to activate their device's camera during conversations, facilitating real-time visual input, a feature consistent with Gemini Live's existing functionality.
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Google's New AI Feature Lets You Have Verbal Conversations With Search
Google will introduce support for camera input in coming months Google on Wednesday rolled out Search Live in AI Mode as part of a small experiment in the US. This feature lets users have back-and-forth conversations in real-time in Search, similar to Gemini Live but in the Google app. It was first announced during the Mountain View-based tech giant's I/O 2025 keynote session in May as an extension to the AI Mode. Search Live is powered by a custom version of Gemini and has voice input capabilities, enabling the ability to not just ask queries, but also follow-up questions. In a blog post, Google said that Search Live is powered by the same custom version of Gemini as AI Mode and features advanced voice capabilities. It can be accessed via a waveform icon just beneath the search bar in the Google app on both Android and iOS devices. Tapping this icon opens a full-screen interface for Search Live with two options -- mute and transcript. The latter enables users to view a text response and continue the conversation by tapping instead of verbal commands. It will also provide links to relevant websites on the screen in case they wish to access more details. As per the company, Search Live works in the background and thus, users can quit the Google app and still continue their conversation with Search. Further, they can also revisit conversations by navigating to the AI Mode history. Google says that the feature leverages a query fan-out technique to present users with a diverse range of helpful content from the web. The feature is currently being tested as part of the AI Mode experiment via opt-in in Search Labs. It is only available in the US and Google is yet to expand it to other regions. Although Search Live in AI Mode is currently limited to voice-based commands, the company says it will also introduce the ability to point a camera at an object and ask questions about it in real-time, in the coming months. A previous report suggests that this feature supports four different voices -- Cosmo, Neso, Terra, and Cassini -- which can be selected from the three dot menu in the Search Live interface.
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Google rolls out Gemini-powered Search Live with voice input
On Wednesday, Google rolled out "Search Live" with voice input in its AI Mode experiment, allowing U.S. users to engage in a hands-free, back-and-forth spoken dialogue with Search. Ideal for multitasking -- whether you're packing for a trip or cooking dinner -- Search Live delivers AI-generated audio answers and on-screen links for deeper exploration. Search Live uses a specialized Gemini model optimized for voice interactions, built on Google Search's trusted quality and relevance frameworks, and employs a query fan-out method to provide a broader and more varied range of web content in its responses. Later this year, Google plans to add live camera support to AI Mode's voice experience, letting you show Search what you see in real time for even richer, more contextual answers. Search Live with voice input is currently accessible on the Google app for Android and iOS devices in the U.S., exclusively for users participating in the AI Mode experiment through Labs.
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Google tests back-and-forth AI voice chats in Search, check details here
Search Live also works in the background, so you can switch to another app without stopping the conversation. Google has introduced a new experimental feature called Search Live that lets users have back-and-forth conversations with Search using their voice. Available through the Google app on both Android and iOS, the feature makes it possible to ask questions verbally and get instant AI-generated voice responses, along with helpful links on the screen. According to Google, this feature can be helpful when you're multitasking like packing, cooking or getting ready. To start, just open the Google app and tap the new 'Live' icon below the search bar. You can then ask something like, "What are some tips for preventing a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?" and get a spoken response from Google. You can easily follow up with another question like, "What should I do if it still wrinkles?" The conversation continues naturally, and you can dig deeper by checking out the suggested web links shown on your screen. Also read: Facebook is finally adding passkey support to fight phishing and password leaks Search Live also works in the background, so you can switch to another app without stopping the conversation. You can even tap the 'transcript' button to see the text version of the conversation. There's also an AI Mode history section where you can revisit and continue earlier chats. The feature is powered by a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model. "Our custom model is built on Search's best-in-class quality and information systems, so you still get reliable, helpful responses no matter where, or how, you're asking your question," the tech giant explained. Search Live with voice also uses Google's "query fan-out technique" to show you a wider and more diverse set of helpful web content. Also read: Microsoft eyes more job cuts as it shifts focus to AI and data centers It's important to note that for now, Search Live is being tested with users in the United States who have enrolled in the AI Mode experiment in Labs. Google also plans to add more capabilities soon, like using your phone's camera to let Search understand what you're seeing in real time.
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Google introduces Search Live, an AI-powered feature enabling back-and-forth voice conversations with its search engine, enhancing user interaction and multitasking capabilities.
Google has rolled out a groundbreaking feature called Search Live, integrating advanced AI capabilities into its search engine. This new tool, part of Google's experimental AI Mode, allows users to engage in back-and-forth voice conversations with the search engine, marking a significant evolution in how people interact with online information 1.
Source: The Verge
Users can access Search Live by opening the Google app and tapping the new "Live" icon. The feature enables free-flowing voice conversations, where users can ask complex, multi-part questions and receive AI-generated audio responses. What sets Search Live apart is its ability to handle follow-up questions seamlessly, creating a more natural and interactive search experience 2.
Search Live is powered by a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model, specifically tailored for advanced voice capabilities. This integration allows for reliable and helpful responses, leveraging Google's best-in-class quality and information systems 1.
Key features of Search Live include:
Source: Mashable
Search Live is designed to be particularly useful for multitasking scenarios. For instance, users can ask for packing tips while preparing for a trip, receiving instant audio responses and follow-up information 1. The feature also displays relevant links on the screen, enabling users to delve deeper into topics of interest 3.
Google has ambitious plans for expanding Search Live's capabilities. In the coming months, the company intends to introduce camera-based queries, allowing users to ask questions about objects in their immediate environment 3. This development aligns with the broader trend of AI integration in search technologies, as seen with competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude 3.
Source: Dataconomy
Currently, Search Live is available to Google Labs users in the United States, supporting English language queries. Users can opt into the AI Mode experiment through Google Labs to access this feature on both Android and iOS devices 4.
While Search Live offers enhanced convenience, it raises questions about its impact on web traffic. The feature's ability to provide comprehensive verbal responses might reduce the need for users to click through to source websites, potentially affecting traffic to content creators and publishers 5.
As Google continues to refine and expand Search Live, it represents a significant step towards more intuitive and conversational search experiences, potentially reshaping how users interact with online information and search engines in the future.
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