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Google’s AI Mode Is Now Official: Here’s How To Test It Out Yourself

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Published on March 12, 2025

Google’s AI Mode is no longer under wraps – it’s official. The search engine unveiled the experimental search mode in an official announcement*, stating that it’s ready for public testing.

The feature, which was leaked in February, is similar to AI overviews but is designed to help users find detailed answers to more open-ended or exploratory questions.

If you’re curious about the feature and would like to test it out, this could be your chance. I’ll explain how to test Google’s AI Mode, who’s currently eligible for testing, and what your business should be looking out for while you test it.

Google announcement*

How To Test Google AI Mode

🚨 Eligibility for testing

Not everyone can test AI mode yet. To give the tool a go, you must be subscribed to Google One’s AI Premium Plan. However, you can join the waitlist for AI Mode via the Google Search Labs for now.

If you’ve already been granted access, you’ll need to have your Search History enabled and use the latest version of the Google app or Chrome to get started.

If eligible, there are a few ways to try out AI Mode. You can:

Go directly to google.com/aimode
Go to Google search, type a question in the search bar, and tap on the AI mode tab below the search bar
Open the Google app and select “AI mode” beneath the home screen search bar

Once you’ve accessed AI Mode through either of these methods, it’s time to start asking questions by typing in your query or using voice search. You can also continue the conversation with AI Mode by asking follow up questions, allowing you to access additional information on your query.

Mobile and desktop screen showing AI Mode results in search — This official Google imagery showcases where AI Mode appears by the search bar. You’ll find it alongside your usual search options, such as “Images” and “Videos.” Source: Website Builder Expert

Things To Look for During Testing

If you’re a small business, I highly recommend trying out this AI search feature to see how it works. By gaining a better understanding of AI Mode, you can act smart and work out what you might need to do for your website to appear in these AI-generated results.

Here’s what to look out for during testing:

The websites attached to the search results – Alongside the AI Mode results, you’ll see links to the websites Google’s AI used to generate its answers. Take a look at these pages and see what kind of content is featured. How well do these results correlate with your search query? Are there any recurring keywords you notice?
How the websites attached are displayed – Look at the placement of the attached sources. How visible are they? And what snippet information is shown? These factors could impact how likely it is for audiences to click through to your website.
The queries your target audience might be asking – Unlike traditional search or AI overviews, AI Mode feels more like a chatbot, since you can continue the conversation to access more in-depth answers. Think about the kinds of questions your audience might be asking. Does your website’s current content answer these queries effectively?

LinkedIn post from Aleyda Solis explaining her key AI Mode findings — SEO expert Aleyda Solis came across interesting findings during testing. She noted that there are also "highlighted blue links” referencing different website sources, which could provide more traffic to your page if clicked on. Source: Website Builder Expert

💡 Top Tip!

Remember, AI Mode is designed to answer more complex or exploratory questions, so you’ll get better results if you test it with open-ended search queries. For instance, instead of typing in a typical search query like “best winter boots,” ask the AI to “compare the best winter boots on the market” instead.

While these changes to search might be concerning for publishers and small businesses due to the possibility of zero click searches, it’s still too early to see whether it’ll have a significant impact on website traffic or not.

That’s why it’s important to know how to test Google’s AI Mode as early as possible. The more informed you are, the better your business can adapt to any changes that come your way.

In the meantime, don’t forget to check our news page regularly for any further Google updates.

Written by:

Holly Choules Writer

Holly Choules is a Writer at Website Builder Expert with a background in researching and crafting engaging content for digital platforms. In previous roles, she has demonstrated her wordsmith skills by writing for public facing brands in a range of industries. After gaining hands-on experience using leading website builders, like Wix and WordPress, she is now keen to share her findings through informative, easy-to-follow articles that help small business owners get online and grow their presence. Since joining the team in 2024 and transitioning into the tech sphere, Holly is passionate about applying her three years of content writing experience and upholding Website Builder Expert’s position as an authoritative source on website builders, ecommerce, and digital marketing.