The Google app for Android has seen a few feature additions in recent months. While most of these changes have been related to the implementation of AI functionality in the app, we’ve also seen evidence of a complete overhaul of the voice search interface, an element that has remained largely unchanged for some time now.
It now looks like Google is finally ready to roll out the redesigned voice search interface, according to 9to5Google’s reporting. In its current form, activating voice search displays a “Listening…” indicator, followed by suggestion pills at the bottom and the “Search a song” pill-shaped button for song identification.
A much-needed visual refresh to the interface
Current (images 1 and 2) vs Upcoming
But with this redesigned version, users will be greeted with a semicircle/arc that serves as the listening indicator, fluctuating as it detects audio. Meanwhile, the Search a song button is noticeably larger in this updated voice search interface. Tapping this button opens a page displaying the words Play Sing Hum in large font, while the bottom portion of the page features the same semicircle-based indicator.
Barring the excessive emphasis on those three words in song search, there’s little to complain about this updated redesign. It also has the benefit of aligning with some of Google’s existing AI experiences, including Search Live. If you’ve used Search Live or AI Mode extensively in the past few weeks (like I have), you’ll feel right at home with this redesign.
Voice search can be activated from multiple locations on your phone, including the microphone icon in the Google app’s search bar and the Google Search widget. Pixel smartphone users can jump to this interface directly via the persistent search bar on the home screen.
Meanwhile, 9to5Google also points out a change to the ping/sound that is heard each time voice search is activated. This ping now resembles the one from Search Live, offering more familiarity with Google’s existing products.
The voice search interface redesign is not immediately available to all users, including those using the beta version of the app. Nevertheless, it should be a matter of time until it’s widely rolled out, given that we’ve seen it under development since September.
While most users would widely welcome the redesigned voice search interface, Google’s use of AI has been under scrutiny recently. A report this week suggested that Google may replace the beloved dictionary box with AI Overviews, thereby removing features like the built-in Ngram viewer, which details the historical usage of a particular word or phrase.
Thankfully, this change has only appeared to some users as part of an experiment, with no confirmation yet on whether Google plans to make this permanent going forward.
