Google Tests AI-Only Search Engine, Eliminating Traditional 10 Blue Links

San Francisco – Google has unveiled an experimental AI-only version of its search engine, completely eliminating the classic 10 blue links in favor of an AI-generated summary.

The feature, currently available to Google One AI Premium subscribers, can be accessed through the search results page by selecting the “AI Mode” tab, alongside existing options like Images and Maps.

AI-Powered Search for Power Users

"We've heard from power users that they want AI responses for even more of their searches," said Robby Stein, Google’s Vice President of Product, in a blog post announcing the update.

The Google One AI Premium plan, priced at $19.99 per month, provides extra cloud storage and special access to AI-driven features.

How AI Mode Works

Google has already introduced AI Overviews, which provide summaries above traditional search results for users in over 100 countries. However, AI Mode takes this a step further by:

• Offering more comprehensive AI summaries with direct links to cited sources.
• Removing the 10 blue links altogether.
• Replacing traditional results with a search bar for follow-up queries.

According to Google, AI Mode is powered by a custom version of its Gemini 2.0 model, designed with advanced reasoning capabilities to handle complex search queries more effectively.

Google Faces Competitive Pressure from AI Search Rivals

With Alphabet’s $350 billion in 2024 revenue largely dependent on search advertising, the company is making its biggest AI-driven shift in years to counter AI-powered search competitors.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI introduced search capabilities in ChatGPT last October, posing a serious challenge to Google’s dominance. In response, Google has prioritized AI integration into its search business, a move that Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s investment chief, described as the company’s “biggest bet” at the Reuters NEXT conference in December.

Legal and Industry Pushback

Google’s increasing reliance on AI-generated previews has drawn criticism from publishers and content creators. In February, edtech company Chegg sued Google, alleging that AI-generated answers were reducing demand for original content and hurting publishers’ ability to compete.

With AI rapidly reshaping search, Google’s AI Mode could mark the beginning of a fundamental transformation in how users interact with the web—but it may also intensify regulatory and competitive challenges for the tech giant.