Google is taking its AI-powered search tool, known as AI Mode, to the next level! With a round of fresh updates, they’re aiming to support both students and educators just in time for the back-to-school rush.
Starting this Tuesday, users will have the ability to upload images directly into the AI Mode chat tab within the Search interface, allowing for better interaction with Google’s AI tools. But that’s not all! Soon, users will also be able to upload PDF documents right from their desktops, making it simple to search through and get summaries of document contents, according to the latest announcement from the tech giant.
AI Mode will now also include Canvas, an interactive tool for project management and workflow. By clicking the new ‘Create Canvas’ button, users can collect and organize various bits of information into a dynamic side panel, making study sessions and project collaborations a lot smoother.
With image and PDF upload features, Canvas is set to become a go-to resource for students looking for more engaging study materials. As Google’s Vice President of Product, Robby Stein, mentioned, “It’s like an advanced full-screen companion designed to enhance your study experience with more immersive tools.”
AI Mode made its debut back in May and was crafted to handle longer, more complex queries than standard search. It can run multiple searches simultaneously across the web and interact with users for more profound follow-up inquiries. Currently, this powerful tool is available in the U.S. and India, and just expanded to users in the U.K.!
In addition to these features, Google revealed that their Search Live tool will now support video input through AI Mode on mobile devices, allowing users to ask real-time questions using their camera starting this week.
All these updates highlight Google’s commitment to amplifying the AI Mode experience across its platforms.
According to Stein, “We’re hitting a moment where users expect AI capabilities in every aspect of their digital experience.”
In a recent call with investors during the quarterly report, CEO Sundar Pichai noted that enhancements like AI Mode and AI Overviews—those handy automated snippets you see on top of search results—have markedly boosted the volume of search queries year-over-year. It’s worth mentioning that Google plans to invest a whopping $75 billion in AI this year alone!
