Google Tests New Refresh Shortcut for AI Search Mode

Google Tests New Refresh Shortcut for AI Mode

Google is reportedly working on a new feature for its AI Mode in Google Search, aimed at improving user experience by making it easier to refresh conversations. This update, discovered through an APK teardown by Android Authority, could allow users to reset a search query without leaving the AI Mode interface.

What is Google's AI Mode?

AI Mode is an enhanced search experience powered by Google's Gemini 2.0. It provides a blend of AI Overviews and relevant search links, offering users a more comprehensive way to find information. Currently, access to AI Mode is available as a preview for Google One AI Premium subscribers. However, there are indications that Google may expand its availability to free users in the future.

The New Refresh Shortcut

The current process for starting a new topic in AI Mode involves navigating back to the app or desktop homepage and re-entering AI Mode. This can be cumbersome for users who frequently switch between different search queries. The newly discovered shortcut, observed in a beta release of the Google app (version 16.11.32.sa.arm64), features an icon resembling a paper and pencil. When activated, this icon is expected to refresh the current AI conversation, allowing users to start a new topic seamlessly without exiting the AI Mode page.

Availability and Expansion

While the refresh shortcut has only been seen in the beta version of the Google app, it is anticipated to be included in a future public update. In parallel, Google is also expanding access to AI Mode for free users. Some users who were on the waitlist for a free Google account have reportedly received notifications granting them access to the feature, allowing them to see the AI Mode filter on the Google app home screen and search results pages.

Related Developments in AI Search

This development follows other recent AI-driven updates in search and content discovery:

Meta AI App: Meta has launched a standalone AI app powered by its Llama 4 model, designed for conversational interactions and offering features similar to ChatGPT.
YouTube AI Overviews: YouTube is experimenting with AI-generated summaries for video search results, aiming to provide quick highlights and recommendations for Premium subscribers.
Google AI Overview Hallucinations: Recent reports have highlighted instances where Google's AI Overview feature has