Google Unveils AI Agents and Redesigned Search Box at I/O

Google has introduced significant changes to its search experience at I/O, upgrading AI Mode with Gemini 3.5 Flash as the default model and unveiling a redesigned Search box with built-in AI capabilities. The announcements also include the debut of search agents and the global expansion of Personal Intelligence.

Liz Reid, Google’s VP and Head of Search, reported that AI Mode now serves over one billion monthly users. She noted that query volume has more than doubled each quarter since launch, reaching an all-time high in the most recent quarter.

Gemini 3.5 Flash becomes the default model in AI Mode for all users worldwide starting today. This continues a pattern of model upgrades across Google’s AI products. In January, Gemini 3 became the default for AI Overviews, and in December, Gemini 3 Flash was set as the default in the Gemini app.

The Search box has been redesigned with AI for the first time in over 25 years, according to Reid. It expands dynamically to handle longer queries, provides AI-driven suggestions beyond autocomplete, and accepts multimodal inputs like images, files, videos, and Chrome tabs. Standard search results remain visible alongside AI features. The new box rolls out today in all countries and languages where AI Mode is available.

Users can now ask follow-up questions directly from an AI Overview, which transitions into a conversational AI Mode session. Context carries over between the two, and this feature is live today on desktop and mobile worldwide.

Google announced search agents that run in the background to monitor the web and deliver updates. The first type, information agents, will scan blogs, news sites, and social posts, and tap into Google’s real-time data on finance and shopping. These agents will launch this summer for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Agentic booking is expanding to local experiences and services. Users can share criteria and receive results with pricing and availability. For select categories like home repair and pet care, Google said users can ask it to call businesses on their behalf. These booking features will roll out to everyone in the U. S. this summer. Additional agentic shopping capabilities in Search were detailed in a separate blog post.

The Antigravity platform and Gemini 3.5 Flash coding capabilities are coming to Search. In response to a query, Search can generate custom visual tools and simulations tailored to the question. It can also build custom dashboards or trackers that users can return to over time. Reid compared these to mini-apps for specific tasks, such as tracking a health routine or managing a move. The generative UI capabilities will be free for everyone in Search this summer, while Antigravity mini apps will begin rolling out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U. S. in the coming months.

Personal Intelligence in AI Mode is expanding to nearly 200 countries and territories across 98 languages, and no longer requires a subscription. Users can connect Gmail and Google Photos to AI Mode, with Calendar support coming. The feature first launched for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in January and expanded to free U. S. users in March.

These updates align with the trajectory CEO Sundar Pichai outlined in April, describing search as an “agent manager” and predicting users would run long-running tasks rather than browse results. Search agents and custom mini apps move in that direction. More query activity within Google’s AI interfaces may mean fewer outbound clicks. Google says queries hit an all-time high, but independent measurements have consistently found that AI Overviews reduce clicks on queries where they appear. The expansion of Personal Intelligence without a subscription in nearly 200 countries is the most concrete change to monitor. Personalized results at this scale could affect how Google selects which content to surface, drawing on a user’s email and photos alongside web results.

Looking ahead, Gemini 3.5 Flash is now available in AI Mode, and the redesigned Search box is rolling out. Personal Intelligence is expanding to nearly 200 countries and territories without a subscription requirement. Several features are scheduled for this summer with different availability tiers. Information agents and Antigravity mini apps will require an AI Pro or Ultra subscription. Agentic booking will be available to everyone in the U. S. Generative UI will be free for everyone in Search. No timeline was given for Google Calendar integration with Personal Intelligence.