Google Search is entering an “expanded era” driven by longer queries, more follow-up queries, and the increasing use of voice and images. This was stated by Alphabet executives who spoke on the Q4 earnings call last night.
- In other words: Google search is evolving into an AI-driven one where conversations often take place within the Google interface.
Why do we care. AI in Google search is no longer an experiment. It is a structural change that is changing user behavior and reshaping discovery, visibility, and traffic across the web.
In numbers. Alphabet’s Q4 advertising revenue reached $82.284 billion, up 13.5% from $72.461 billion in 2024:
- Google search and more: $63.073 billion (up 16.7%)
- YouTube: $11.383 billion (up 8.7%)
- Google Network: $7.828 billion (down 1.5%)
Alphabet’s advertising revenue for fiscal year 2025 reached $294.691 billion, up 11.4% from $264.590 billion in 2024:
- Google search and more: $224,532 billion (up 13.4%)
- YouTube: $40.367 billion (up 11.7%)
- Google Network: $29.792 billion (down 1.9%)
AI overview and AI mode are now core to Search. Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Google aggressively deployed AI-powered search features in Q4, underscoring how important it is to the product.
- “We’ve shipped more than 250 product launches, both in AI mode and AI previews in the last quarter,” Photosi said.
This includes Google developing AI Overviews into its Gemini 3 model. He said Google has worked to integrate AI Overviews with conversational search.
- “We’ve also made the search experience more seamless ensuring that the transition from AI perspective to conversation in AI mode is completely seamless.” Photosi said.
AI is driving more use of Google Search. Managers have repeatedly framed AI-driven search as a supplement – increasing overall usage rather than removing traditional queries.
- “Search saw more usage in Q4 than ever before, as AI continues to drive the expansion moment,” Photosi said.
Once users engage with AI-enabled features, Google says engagement increases.
- “When people start using these new things, they use them a lot,” Photosi said.
Changing search behavior. Google has shared several new data points that show how AI Mode is changing the search experience — longer, more conversational, and more versatile.
- “Queries in AI mode are three times longer than traditional search,” Photosi said.
Sessions are also increasingly conversational.
- “We’re also seeing sessions become more conversational, with a significant portion of questions in AI Mode, now leading to a follow-up question,” he said.
The AI mode also extends beyond text.
- “About one in six AI queries are now non-text using voice or images,” Photosi said.
Google highlighted the continued deployment of visual search capabilities, noting that:
- “Circle to Search is now available on over 580 million Android devices,” Photosi said.
Gemini doesn’t eat people Search. As the Gemini app continues to grow, Google said it has yet to see evidence that users are abandoning Search.
- “We haven’t seen any evidence of cannibalism,” Photosi said.
Instead, Google described users moving slowly between Search, AI Overview, AI Mode, and the Gemini app.
- “The combination of all that, I think, creates a moment of expansion,” Photosi said.
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