Search Box Turns Conversational
The biggest search story is Google pushing AI Mode directly into the search box. Google says the box now expands for longer prompts, accepts text, images, files, videos, and Chrome tabs, and lets users move from an AI Overview into a follow-up AI Mode conversation. Search Engine Land called it the biggest search box change in 25 years, while Search Engine Roundtable noted it is rolling out where AI Mode is available.
Agents Are Moving Into Search
Google also announced Gemini 3.5 Flash as the default model for AI Mode globally, plus “information agents” that can monitor the web for users and send updates. Search Engine Journal’s read is the important one for site owners: more activity may stay inside Google’s AI interfaces, which can mean fewer traditional clicks even when search usage rises.
Search Engine Roundtable also spotted a test showing Preferred Sources labels inside AI Mode citations. If that expands, publishers with loyal audiences may have a new visibility lever: getting readers to choose them as a preferred source.
SERP Weather
Rankings are calmer today, but not fully settled. The last completed score jumped to 6.8/10 on May 19, then today’s partial reading cooled to 4.4/10. The bigger story is the arc: rankings ran moderately hot from May 5 to May 17, dipped, bounced hard around I/O, and are now easing.
What to Do
- Test your money queries in AI Mode, not just classic results.
- Make product, pricing, local, and availability data easy for Google to understand.
- If you sell age-restricted products, note Google Search Central’s new hasAdultConsideration structured data support.
