Google AI Mode With Upload Files, Canvas Planner & Search While Browsing

07/30/25
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Google AI Mode Enhances Search with PDF, Image Uploads, Canvas, and Lens Integration

Google AI Mode now supports uploading images and PDFs to answer detailed queries based on file content. The new Canvas feature helps users plan and organize information dynamically across sessions. Additionally, AI Mode integrates with Google Lens in Chrome, allowing follow-up questions on visual content directly while browsing.

Optimixed’s Overview: Transforming Search with Interactive AI Tools and Enhanced Content Integration

Expanded File Upload Capabilities in AI Mode

Google AI Mode recently introduced the ability to upload images and will soon support PDFs on desktop, enabling users to ask questions directly about their uploaded content. The AI analyzes these files, cross-referencing information from the web to provide comprehensive and context-aware answers. This functionality is particularly useful for students and professionals seeking deeper insights from documents like lecture slides or reports.

Introducing Canvas: A Dynamic Planning Assistant

  • Canvas is a new feature within AI Mode that provides a side panel for building plans and organizing information interactively.
  • Users can refine outputs and combine data from web searches and uploaded files over multiple sessions.
  • Ideal use cases include homework help, travel planning, and study schedules.
  • Currently rolling out to users in the AI Mode Labs experiment on desktop browsers in the U.S.

Seamless AI Interaction with Google Lens in Chrome

The integration of AI Mode with Google Lens enhances browsing by allowing users to ask follow-up questions about images and diagrams seen on web pages. By activating AI Mode within Lens search results, users receive an AI-generated overview and can dive deeper into the subject matter, facilitating better understanding and research directly from their desktop browser.

These advancements reflect Google’s commitment to evolving search into a more interactive, multimodal experience that combines user uploads, real-time planning tools, and AI-powered insights seamlessly.