Google’s been going through some big changes over the past few years, adding a ton of AI-powered features to its apps and services. Even its most well-known product, Search, has also seen some changes, which some have loved but also hated.
And while the Google Search webpage has mostly remained the same, it got a pretty notable change by adding an AI mode. Now, the magnifying icon has been removed, and replaced with a “+” symbol, which also brings added functionality to Search (via 9to5Google).
Out with the old…
Google’s Search page has remained pretty barebones for decades now, giving users a minimalistic interface that’s easy to use and understand. You just enter your query and away you go. Of course, there are some small touches here and there, with a way to “search by voice” and “search by image”.
If you click on the magnifying glass, you can also see trending searches, which is a fun way to kill some time if you want to catch up on what’s current. However, as mentioned before, Google is now removing the magnifying glass and replacing it with a new “+” symbol that will allow users to upload an image or file.
While this might be new to you, it’s not a completely new feature for Search, as it was previously buried in AI mode. If you click on AI mode in Search, you’ll see that there’s also a “+” symbol there that can access the same features. Once you upload an image or file, you can ask Google about it, and it will help you with whatever information you need.
A simple change puts it front and center
Again, this isn’t some huge change that’s going to impact most people. But it’s a good way to get Google’s AI tools into more people’s hands. Of course, beyond that, the search results have become an utter mess, as brands looked to boost their identity through SEO tactics.
But, things are slowly changing as Google introduces new AI features to help get past the clutter. We haven’t seen this new change in the app, but it is available on the web in the US. Testing it in other regions is a hit or miss, so if you don’t see it yet, just know that it’s mostly likely coming.
With that said, it was a pretty big year in Search, and if you were curious about what some of the trends were, we recommend checking out the full list from Google.
