TechCrunchGoogleThursday, April 16, 2026

Google now lets you explore the web side-by-side with AI Mode

AI-Generated Summary

Google has introduced a feature allowing users to browse the web simultaneously with an AI assistant, enabling real-time web exploration paired with AI analysis and responses. This integration streamlines the research and information-gathering process by eliminating the friction of switching between a search engine and a separate AI tool, positioning Google to compete more directly with AI-native search competitors while deepening user engagement with its AI capabilities.

Key Takeaways

Google has introduced a feature allowing users to browse the web simultaneously with an AI assistant, enabling real-time web exploration paired with AI analysis and responses.
This integration streamlines the research and information-gathering process by eliminating the friction of switching between a search engine and a separate AI tool, positioning Google to compete more directly with AI-native search competitors while deepening user engagement with its AI capabilities.

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