One year ago, we launched AI Mode in the United States. Today, it has officially surpassed one billion monthly active users globally, with AI Mode queries more than doubling every quarter since its debut. These new AI-driven features in Search are the primary reason we are currently seeing query volumes at an all-time high.
Because AI Mode bridges the gap between a traditional search engine and conversational AI, we’ve observed that people aren’t just searching more frequently—they are searching differently, asking the complex questions that are genuinely on their minds. Our deep dive into U.S. usage patterns shows that AI Mode is not just changing how people search, but expanding the very definition of what is searchable.
Here are several key insights regarding AI Mode in the U.S. one year post-launch: Searching is moving beyond text. More than one in six searches in the U.S. now utilize voice or images, with image-based searches growing by over 40% month-over-month. Additionally, users are asking significantly longer questions. While growth is seen across all query types, the average AI Mode search is now triple the length of a traditional Search query.
Furthermore, AI Mode is increasingly used for getting things done. Trends data indicates that queries related to planning have grown 80% faster than overall AI Mode queries in the past six months. AI is also facilitating better decision-making; brainstorming queries have grown 30% faster than average since launch, and searches starting with phrases like “where to,” “where should I,” and “ideas for” are on a steady rise.
