Google Tests AI Mode Button in Results Page Search Bar

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Glowing Google AI Mode button placed in a dark search bar

By NewSunSEO September 23, 2026

Google is testing a new placement for its AI Mode button, this time inside the search bar on the search results page itself. The button has appeared across most other Google surfaces for months, and this test extends it to the spot where users type their follow-up queries after a first search.

The change matters because it gives AI Mode a more permanent position in the daily search loop. Anyone refining a query on a results page now sees AI Mode as a one-click option next to Enter, instead of having to leave the results page to reach it.

What the test looks like

The new layout places the AI Mode button inside the search bar at the top of the results page. Previously, the button was most visible on Google’s home page, with access from the results page requiring extra taps. In this test, the button sits inline with the query field, so a user does not need to scroll or open a separate tab to switch modes.

The button does not appear for every query. Even when triggered, it shows up only on some search suggestions, not all of them, which suggests Google is rolling the placement out gradually and comparing behavior across variations.

Why the placement matters

Putting AI Mode inside the search bar turns a follow-up search into a fork in the road. A user typing a refined question can now send it to either classic web search or AI Mode from the same input field. That removes one of the small friction points that kept AI Mode from feeling like the default path for deeper questions.

It also fits a wider pattern. Google has been steadily moving AI Mode into more spots across its products, including recent changes that route some Google AI Overview links toward AI Mode rather than to publisher pages. A button inside the results page search bar is the next step in that direction: AI Mode becomes a peer to web search at the exact moment users are deciding where to send their next query.

Does regular search still work?

Yes. In hands-on testing, pressing Enter or clicking the regular submit action still runs a standard web search, even with the AI Mode button visible. The button is an additional option layered on top of the existing flow, not a replacement for it, at least in this version of the test.

That detail matters for anyone watching how aggressive Google’s push really is. The button is prominent, but it does not block the normal path. Users who want web results can still get them with the same gesture they have always used.

When did the test appear?

The test was first noticed in mid-September 2026 and was independently confirmed a few days later by another tester who was unable to reproduce it on the first try. The gap between the first sighting and confirmation is consistent with a small, randomized experiment, where only a slice of users and queries see the new layout at any given moment.

How reliable is this signal?

Google runs dozens of search interface tests at any time, and most never ship. Still, AI Mode has been gaining surface area across Google for months, so this particular test lines up with a clear product direction rather than a one-off experiment. Users who want to check whether they are in the test can look at the search bar at the top of any results page and see whether an AI Mode button has appeared next to the query field.

FAQ

What is the AI Mode button in Google’s search bar?

It is a button that lets users send their query to Google’s AI Mode, which generates an AI-written answer, directly from the main search field. Google has been testing its placement inside the search bar on the search results page, beyond its earlier home page position.

Can you still do a regular Google search when the AI Mode button shows up?

Yes. Testing showed that pressing Enter or using the standard submit action still runs a normal web search, even with the AI Mode button visible in the search bar. The button adds a second option rather than replacing the existing one.

Does the AI Mode button appear on every search?

No. The button does not appear for every query, and even when it is triggered, it only shows up on some search suggestions. This points to a limited, gradual rollout rather than a full launch.