Google AI agents: How to search beyond the basics
▼ Summary
– Google introduced agentic capabilities in Search at I/O 2026, allowing users to create and manage AI agents that continuously track topics of interest.
– These information agents operate 24/7 in the background, synthesizing information from multiple sources and providing actionable insights instead of just links.
– Use cases include monitoring stock market activity, tracking flight prices, following sports teams, and keeping up with breaking news or housing trends.
– Users activate the feature through AI Mode in Search, receive push notifications, and can manage or turn off alerts from their AI Mode history.
– Information agents roll out this summer, first to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S., alongside a major Search redesign with a new intelligent search box.
At the Google I/O 2026 keynote, the company unveiled a major leap forward in how people interact with its search engine: customizable AI agents that work around the clock. Instead of simply answering one-off questions, these agents are designed to track topics, synthesize information from multiple sources, and provide ongoing updates , all without the user needing to manually search again.
This marks a shift from traditional search, which waits for a prompt. Google’s new information agents operate continuously in the background, 24/7, monitoring the web for relevant developments. They don’t just deliver a list of links. They can explain why a piece of news matters, compare different perspectives, and offer actionable insights. In many ways, this is the next evolution of Google Alerts, the notification service launched in 2003, but with far more depth and intelligence.
For example, someone tracking the stock market could create an agent focused on specific companies, share prices, or economic trends. The agent would monitor market activity throughout the day, summarize earnings reports, flag breaking news, and alert the user when major changes occur , complete with summaries and links to learn more. The same logic applies to everyday tasks like tracking flight prices for an upcoming trip, following a sports team through live events, monitoring housing or job market trends, or keeping tabs on weather and traffic.
To get started, users open AI Mode in Search and enter a natural language prompt. For instance: “Keep me updated on nearby movie tickets for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu.’” When something relevant surfaces, the Google app sends a push notification. Users can also view all active tracked topics in their AI Mode history, where they can refine, manage, or turn off alerts at any time.
The feature is set to arrive this summer. Google will first roll it out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U. S., with additional markets following later.
Alongside these agents, Google also revealed a major redesign of Search itself, calling it a reimagined “intelligent search box.” The company describes this as the biggest change to Search in over 25 years. The new interface supports longer, more conversational queries, and includes an AI-powered query suggestion system that goes beyond traditional autocomplete to help users craft nuanced, context-aware searches.
(Source: TechCrunch)
