Google is testing a new AI Mode search engine chatbot, with some users reporting they have seen it integrated into the search bar or replacing the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button underneath it. The AI Mode tab’s placement varies across user reports on X, with some seeing it beside the “search by image” button, while others see it as a replacement for the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button.
The appearance of the AI Mode button also differs, with some users seeing a rotating rainbow border when they hover over it. In cases where it replaces “I’m Feeling Lucky,” the rainbow border is the default design, making the AI chatbot button stand out. A Google spokesperson, Ashley Thompson, confirmed to The Verge on that a “small percentage” of US users would soon see an AI Mode option in Google Search.
Thompson explained that AI Mode in Search is currently limited to users of Google’s experimental Labs environment, saying, “We often test different ways for people to access our helpful features. This is just one of many experiments.” The potential replacement of “I’m Feeling Lucky” with AI Mode may upset some users, as the button has been a part of Google’s homepage since its launch, directing users to the first webpage of search results.
What to expect from Google I/O 2025 in a nutshell
The introduction of AI Mode suggests that Google is considering a more efficient way for users to get responses to search queries, potentially bypassing the traditional search results page. The feature’s rollout to the wider public remains uncertain.
