At Google I/O on May 19, 2026, Google showed a version of Search that feels much closer to an AI assistant than a traditional results page. In AI Mode, Google is now using Gemini 3.5 Flash as the default model worldwide, and the search box can expand for longer, more detailed questions. Users can also search with not only text, but images, files, videos, and even Chrome tabs. Google says Search will still provide a range of results, but the direction is obvious: the company wants people to ask bigger questions and let AI organize the answer. (blog.google)
The biggest change is that Search is starting to do tasks, not just find pages. Google announced “information agents” that can work in the background and send updates when something important appears, such as a new apartment listing or a product release. It is also expanding agent-like actions in Search, including booking local experiences and services, and in some categories, calling businesses on a user’s behalf in the U.S. this summer. Google also previewed custom dashboards and mini-app-like experiences built inside Search with Antigravity, starting first for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S. In simple terms, Search is moving from “Here are some links” to “Here is a tool that helps you finish the job.” That last point is an inference from Google’s new features, rather than Google’s exact wording. (blog.google)
Still, this does not mean links are disappearing. In a separate May 6 update, Google said it was adding more direct links inside AI responses, article suggestions for deeper reading, previews of websites, and even labeled links from a user’s own news subscriptions. AI responses can also show perspectives from public discussions, social media, and other firsthand sources, with creator or community names for extra context. So the “age of finding links” is probably not over. Instead, links may become the second step: first the AI explains, then it points you to the best places to explore further. That may be the real turning point of AI search in 2026. (blog.google)










