Google’s new AI agents aim to keep searching for you while you sleep

For over two decades, Google Search operated on a straightforward deal: ask a question, get a list of links. But at its I/O 2026 conference on Monday, the company made it clear that era is ending. The headline shift? A new breed of AI-powered tools called information agents , persistent, behind-the-scenes helpers designed to keep searching even after you close your browser. These agents don’t just fetch results; they monitor, track, and update information in real time, turning search from a one-time query into a continuous, background activity. The vision is simple: while you sleep, work, or drive, Google’s AI agents are still hunting for answers, compiling updates, and preparing summaries. This marks a fundamental rethinking of what search can be , no longer reactive, but proactive and always-on.