For a quarter century, the Google search box has been one of computing’s most recognizable interfaces: a thin white rectangle, a blinking cursor, a few typed words, and a list of blue links. That era is ending.
At its annual I/O developer conference, Google announced the most significant redesign of its search box since 1998. The transformation turns the simple keyword input into a dynamic, AI-driven conversation starter that accepts text, images, PDFs, videos, and even open Chrome tabs as inputs.
From Keywords to Conversations
Liz Reid, Google’s VP and head of Search, called it “the biggest upgrade to our iconic search box since its debut over 25 years ago.”
The changes reflect a fundamental shift in how Google envisions interaction with its flagship product. The new search box dynamically expands to accommodate longer, more conversational queries. Where the old interface encouraged brevity—a narrow field suited to two- or three-word keywords—the new design invites users to fully articulate complex questions.
The box now supports multimodal inputs directly. Users can upload images, PDFs, files, and videos, or drag in content from Chrome tabs, all from the main search interface. Previously, some of these capabilities existed only in AI Mode, which required extra steps to access.
Google is also deploying an AI-powered query suggestion system that “goes beyond autocomplete.” Rather than simply predicting the next word based on popular searches, the system helps users formulate complex, nuanced queries-coaching them toward the kind of detailed questions that AI Mode handles best.
One Seamless Experience
Perhaps more significant than the box itself is the architectural change. Google is unifying AI Overviews-the AI-generated summary panels that appear atop traditional search results-with AI Mode, the more immersive conversational search experience launched at I/O last year.
Starting Tuesday, this merged experience will be live across mobile and desktop worldwide. A user can type a question, receive an AI Overview alongside traditional results, and continue directly into a back-and-forth AI Mode conversation-all without navigating to a separate interface.
The new search box is rolling out immediately in all countries and languages where AI Mode is available.
The redesign signals Google’s clearest position: the future of search isn’t a place where users type fragmented keywords, but an interface where they hold open-ended, multimodal conversations with an AI system backed by the entire web.