Google unveiled its biggest search engine update in 25 years: AI will now handle searches instead of humans.

On May 19, 2026, at its annual developer conference, Google announced a major update to its search engine. The key change is even deeper integration with artificial intelligence. The traditional search results with dozens of links to various websites will gradually fade into the background. Essentially, search as we've become accustomed to for nearly three decades has ceased to exist. «Medusa» tells how to now search for information on Google.

Google began transforming its search experience two years ago. Back then, the company introduced AI Overview—short AI-generated answers based on a user's query, displayed before the main search results. In March 2025, the company introduced a new AI Mode, which allowed users to interact with the search engine like a chatbot and ask clarifying questions in a separate tab in the search menu. A year later, this mode is used by over a billion people monthly.

Now, the developers have announced they've completely redesigned the search bar itself. It's now a dynamically expanding dialog box that accommodates long, complex queries. And if the AI's answer is incomplete, you can continue the conversation and ask it to clarify specific details.

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Queries themselves can be more than just text: you can use images, videos, and files, as well as drag and drop information from other Chrome browser tabs into the search bar. As an example, at the conference, they demonstrated how the search engine searches for a suitable dress within a specific price range using two photos and a text query.

The second innovation is AI search agents, which can be accessed through the search bar. They will operate 24/7, constantly analyzing information on a given topic and sending updates as needed. For example, if you provide an AI agent with precise apartment specifications, it will scan new rental listings, notifying the user when suitable options appear. Chatbots and AI agents are generally capable of this, but as separate systems, not connected to the search engine.

The company will also improve and expand agency booking capabilities (for example, for restaurants) through the search bar. The system will be able to provide relevant information for a specific request, including pricing and availability, and provide a link to complete the booking. In certain cases, such as when searching for beauty services, the AI ​​search engine will be able to contact the company on the user's behalf.

Additionally, the developers announced plans to integrate Google Antigravity, their proprietary AI development platform launched in the fall of 2025, directly into search. This will allow for the delivery of answers in the form of interactive visualizations, graphs, tables, and even standalone mini-apps generated by artificial intelligence.

Such apps are suitable for solving complex or long-term problems, such as event planning. Google can generate a comprehensive dashboard, allowing the user to see the status of each step. Alternatively, one could ask Google to code a personal fitness tracker that would take into account all the necessary parameters. It could also provide up-to-date information in real time, such as weather forecasts, and create interactive maps for jogging.

The foundation for all these innovations will be the new Gemini 3.5 Flash AI model, which was also presented at the conference. It significantly improves on previous versions of Gemini.

Google has already begun updating its search engine in all regions where AI Mode is available. Search agents will become available in the summer of 2026, but initially only to paid Gemini subscribers. Expanded booking capabilities for all users—also starting this summer—are currently only announced for the US. Google Antigravity integration will occur in the coming months, but for now, it will only be available in the US to paid subscribers.

It may seem like a simple gradual evolution of the ideas the developers presented two years ago. But in reality, the long-term consequences of this search engine transformation could be far more serious.

The new announcement hints at a significant architectural change, according to VentureBeat. The company is merging AI Overview and AI Mode into a single, seamless interface, simultaneously encouraging users to continue the conversation with AI. Furthermore, Google wants to completely change user habits: making them talk to the search engine rather than searching for information using a set of keywords.

Search as we're accustomed to—with links and the need to navigate to websites—has effectively ceased to exist. The publication emphasizes that the human role in this process is also changing. While previously a direct participant in the search, now it's becoming a user who is provided with ready-made information.

In the near future, search results themselves will transform into interactive web pages, and traditional website links will fade into the background. All these changes will further impact those who create content or rely on its views, such as publishers, advertisers, and SEO specialists.

At the same time, Google is giving users virtually no time to adapt to the new reality. Some features were available at the time of the announcement, while others will be launched in the coming months. In some areas, particularly advertising, the changes will open up new opportunities, adds VentureBeat. At the very least, this will be due to the fact that a meaningful dialogue with the neural network will allow for a better understanding of the user's needs at a given moment.

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However, these changes also create new uncertainties and challenges. If a person is focused on a conversation with an AI, will they be willing to be distracted by an ad? Where and at what point in the conversation will it feel most natural? Finally, how safe is this for users themselves? Will corporations learn too much about us?

Since its inception, Google Search has become the primary digital gateway to the internet for users worldwide. Now, with its latest AI update, Google is changing the locks on that door.

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