Google is once again shaking up the way we search online. In an experimental move, the tech giant is testing a new AI Mode feature on its search homepage, replacing the longstanding “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. This feature is already being tested with a small cohort of users in the U.S. through Google Labs, the firm’s testing ground. It’s too soon to say whether AI Mode will join Google Search permanently, but the test marks a profound change in the way Google would like search to be experienced, mirroring the increasing influence of artificial intelligence over online behavior.
A New Chapter for Google Search
For over two decades, the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button has been a quirky but beloved feature on Google’s homepage. This simple button bypasses the usual search results page and takes users directly to the first webpage listed in the search results. Although it was often seen as a fun Easter egg rather than a core search tool, it became a familiar part of Google’s brand identity.
Now, Google is experimenting with replacing this button with something very different: AI Mode — an AI-powered search feature designed to bring conversational, chatbot-like responses directly to users’ queries. This is a dramatic shift from Google’s long-established text-based list of search results to an interactive, AI-driven experience.
What Is AI Mode?
AI Mode is an experimental mode that provides a different means of searching using cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Rather than browsing pages of links, users are given synthesized, brief answers produced by AI, much like mainstream AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. The new mode is intended to save users time by giving them more contextual, direct answers, potentially revolutionizing the search experience into a conversation instead of a one-way information retrieval system.
Interestingly, Google is testing multiple ways to integrate AI Mode on the homepage. In some versions, the AI Mode button replaces the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button directly under the search bar. In others, it appears as a shortcut embedded within the search box itself, alongside other familiar icons like the “search by image” button.
Why Is Google Testing This Now?
Google only makes its iconic search homepage change very seldom, which adds to how significant this experiment must be. The timing is also interesting: the test started in early May 2025, which was a matter of weeks before Google’s major developer conference, Google I/O, during which the company will likely unveil additional AI-enabled updates.
The action seems to be a straightforward reaction to the quickly evolving search environment, fueled by the acceleration of AI chatbots and generative AI tools. Indeed, Google is experiencing mounting pressure from rivals and changing market trends. A recent Apple executive, Eddie Cue, testified that, for the first time in history, search traffic on Google through Safari dipped in April 2025. Cue explained the slump partially because people were resorting to AI-driven substitutes such as ChatGPT for their information requirements.
How Does This Fit Into Google’s Broader AI Strategy?
Google’s AI Mode is all part of a broader effort to bake artificial intelligence into regular search experiences. Google had announced earlier this year plans to experiment with AI upgrades directly on search results pages, where users can engage with AI-created responses in addition to regular links.
The AI’s dreams of the company go beyond search. With offerings such as Bard (Google’s AI chatbot) and advancements in natural language processing, Google is looking to transform how humans receive and engage with information.
What Might This Do for Users?
If AI Mode is implemented broadly, users may gain faster, more direct responses to their inquiries, eliminating the need for browsing several websites. For lengthy or multipart questions, AI Mode might offer extensive descriptions, summaries, or suggestions, according to user requirements.
However, there may be concerns as well. AI-generated answers can sometimes be inaccurate or biased, and users may miss out on the diversity of viewpoints available through a traditional search results list. Additionally, replacing a beloved feature like “I’m Feeling Lucky” might alienate some longtime Google fans.
Final Thoughts
Google’s experiment with AI Mode on its search home page is a gutsy move that indicates the company’s push to innovate and keep up in a world where everything is increasingly based on artificial intelligence. Although the experiment is yet to come into full force and might not turn into lasting change, it serves to highlight how fast search technology is changing.
As AI technologies continue to reimagine how we discover and engage with information, Google’s adoption of AI Mode might signal the dawn of a new era in search — one in which conversational AI and conventional search results coexist, delivering more interactive, more complete experiences to users.
