Google is introducing a new feature that allows users to engage in back-and-forth voice conversations with AI Mode, its experimental Search tool designed for handling complex, multi-part questions. Thanks to the new Search Live integration, users can speak directly with Search in a natural, flowing conversation and explore web links as part of the experience.
To use it, users simply open the Google app and tap the new “Live” icon to ask a question out loud. The AI will respond with a generated audio reply, and users can continue the dialogue by asking follow-up questions.
Google Adds Voice Support to AI Mode in Bid to Rival ChatGPT and Perplexity
Today’s update follows Google’s recent rollout of AI Mode to all users in the U.S., a move widely seen as the company’s response to rivals like Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search. With the addition of voice support, Google is aiming to compete more directly with those platforms’ voice-enabled features.
According to Google, the voice functionality is especially helpful when users are on the move or multitasking. For instance, while packing for a trip, you might ask, “How can I keep a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?” and then follow up with, “What should I do if it still wrinkles?”
Search Live Offers Multitasking, On-Screen Links, and Access to Conversation History
During the conversation, relevant links will appear on your screen, allowing you to explore your search in more detail if you choose.
Because Search Live runs in the background, you can keep the conversation going even while using other apps. There’s also a “transcript” button that lets you see the text version of the response and switch to typing your questions if you prefer. Additionally, you can return to any previous Search Live interaction by accessing your AI Mode history.
In a blog post, Liza Ma, director of product management at Google Search, shared that Search Live in AI Mode runs on a customized version of Gemini with enhanced voice features. “Our tailored model is built on the trusted quality and information systems of Search,” she noted, “so you’ll continue to receive accurate, useful answers no matter how or where you ask your questions. The voice-enabled Search Live also leverages our query fan-out method to surface a broader and more varied range of helpful web content, opening up new ways to explore topics.”
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