Google AI Mode reaches 1 billion users, Gemini 3.5 Flash now default

Google’s AI‑enhanced search now serves over 1 billion monthly users, and the company has made Gemini 3.5 Flash the default model for AI Mode worldwide while rolling out a redesigned search box that accepts text, images and files [2]. The shift signals a faster move away from classic “ten‑blue‑link” results toward a blended subscription‑and‑ads revenue mix that CEO Sundar Pichai says will sustain Google’s ecosystem [1].

AI Mode scaling and product upgrades

Google announced that Gemini 3.5 Flash is now the default model for AI Mode, replacing earlier versions for all users across every supported country and language [2]. The upgrade follows a pattern of recent model refreshes—Gemini 3 became the default for AI Overviews in January, and Gemini 3 Flash was rolled out in the Gemini app in December. Alongside the model change, the company unveiled the biggest search‑box redesign in more than a quarter‑century, expanding the input field to handle longer queries and multimodal content such as images, videos and Chrome tabs [2]. Standard web results still appear, but AI suggestions now sit alongside them, and users can ask follow‑up questions that continue a conversational session [2].

User adoption and revenue outlook

Liz Reid, Google’s VP of Search, said AI Mode has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, with query volume more than doubling each quarter since the feature’s launch and hitting an all‑time high in the most recent quarter [2]. In a separate interview, Pichai noted that while sources and links will remain part of AI answers, the product is evolving as a “continuum” rather than a sudden cut‑over from classic search [1]. He also hinted that future monetisation will blend subscriptions with advertising, a departure from Google’s traditional ad‑centric model [1]. This blend could offset the “Google Zero” trend where AI‑generated answers provide visibility without generating referral clicks for publishers [1].

Implications for publishers and competitors

The redesign gives Google more control over the user experience, potentially reducing outbound clicks that fuel publisher revenue—a concern echoed by SEO analysts who warn that AI Mode’s visibility does not translate into the same referral traffic as classic search [1]. Competitors such as Microsoft’s Bing AI and emerging generative search platforms must now contend with Google’s expanded AI capabilities, including upcoming “search agents” that monitor the web for real‑time updates and “mini‑apps” that generate custom dashboards [2]. The rollout of Personal Intelligence to nearly 200 territories without a subscription fee further widens Google’s data moat, as the feature can draw on users’ Gmail, Photos and, soon, Calendar data [2].

What to watch

• July 2024 – Launch of information‑type search agents for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
• Q4 2024 earnings – How Google reports revenue mix changes as AI Mode usage climbs.
• Competitor response – Updates from Bing or other AI search services that aim to match Google’s multimodal box and default model upgrades.

Google’s push to make AI Mode the primary search experience, backed by a billion‑user base and a more powerful Gemini model, underscores a strategic pivot that could reshape web traffic flows and advertising revenue for the broader internet ecosystem. The open question remains how quickly publishers can adapt to a world where visibility no longer guarantees clicks.