I tried Google Search’s new AI Mode, and I might not search any other way again

I’m not going to lie — I’ve hesitated to embrace the AI-powered overhaul of Google’s search tools. Sure, I’ve come across a helpful AI Overview here and there, but I’ve also received terrible advice, like adding non-toxic glue to pizza cheese to make it stretchier. And, when that’s the level of bad information you can get from an AI model, you’re probably not going to give it too many chances to get the answer right.

However, I’m also a bit of a glutton for punishment — I mean, I used Rabbit’s R1 more than once in the few months after it launched. So, when Google announced a new AI Mode would be coming to its Search Labs program, I signed up for the waitlist. I figured it couldn’t be any worse than Google’s error-filled AI Overviews, and if I was lucky, it might be an AI-powered feature I actually use. I guess today is my lucky day, and here’s why.