Google Reportedly Testing Removal of AI Mode Button From Search Bar
TLDR
Google is reportedly testing removal of the AI Mode button from the Search bar for a small group of searchers, though SERoundtable could not replicate it.
What this Google Search test means for your site
- Status
- Test
- Platform
- Google Search
- Affects
- AI Mode button in Search bar
- Who
- Small subset of Google Search users
- Effective
- Not specified in the source
- Action needed
- Not specified in the source
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Google is reportedly testing removing the AI Mode button from the Search bar, as SERoundtable reports. The outlet said it could not replicate the change, but noted that a test for a tiny subset of searchers, comparing performance with and without the button, would not be surprising.
How we got here: earlier Google Search coverage
On September 18, Google tested adding its AI Mode button to the search bar on search results pages, not just the homepage. Later, on October 14, it tested placing the AI Mode sidebar on the main search results page rather than in a separate AI Mode tab. Now, Google is reportedly testing removal of the AI Mode button from the Search bar for a small group of searchers, though SERoundtable could not replicate it.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Oct 14Google Tests AI Mode Left Sidebar in Main Search Results
Google is testing placement of its AI Mode sidebar interface on the main search results page rather than in a separate AI Mode tab.
- Oct 1Google Tests Dropping the "I'm Feeling Lucky" Button From Search Bar
Google is testing the removal of the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button from its search interface, replacing it in some cases with AI-related options.
- Sep 18Google testing AI Mode button directly in search results page
Google is expanding where it displays its AI Mode button by adding it to the search bar on search results pages, not just the homepage.
- Aug 28Google Testing Auto-Promotion of AI Mode From Search AI Overviews
Google is testing an AI Overview experience that automatically expands to full AI Mode responses without requiring users to click a button.