Google's AI Box, Siri & Spark, Gemini Trust, Zero Traffic

Google Launches AI Powered Search Box

AI Mode now has more than 1 billion users, according to Liz Reid today at Google I/O. Many SEOs had been predicting that AI Mode would become the new SERP. Google isn't doing that but it is much more deeply integrating AI into search with a new "intelligent search box," tightening the AIO and AI Mode connection and introducing new "search agents." The new search box, which Reid described as the biggest upgrade in 25 years, is supposed to go live today. It's not operative for me yet. One gets the sense that it will lead people more often into AI Mode. The new search box also offers AI powered search suggestions. Google described it as a "seamless experience," likely intended to overcome some of the fragmentation that Google introduced with all its disparate AI experiences. Reid also discussed search agents, starting with "information agents." These are the AI equivalent of Google Alerts, with more capabilities (e.g., apartment hunting, financial research). Eventually, more types of agents will be deployed. Google specifically mentions local here: "We’re also expanding agentic booking capabilities in Search to a wide range of new tasks, including local experiences and services." Google will find pricing and availability information (including calling the business) and then book or offer booking options. These agentic capabilities go live this summer for paid Gemini users. Many or all of these tools will also be available through a new Gemini agentic assistant called Spark.