Google’s AI Overview Now Includes Images in Search Results

Google is enhancing its AI-powered search experience, AI Mode, with the integration of visual results, the company announced recently. This move aims to broaden the utility of AI Mode and cater to user queries that are better addressed visually than through text alone.

Initially launched in the U.S. earlier this year as a primarily text-based tool answering questions in natural language, AI Mode is now evolving to include image generation capabilities. This expansion is particularly relevant for users seeking inspiration or assistance with shopping, where visual cues play a crucial role.

Google’s push to incorporate generative AI into its core search product has intensified since OpenAI’s disruption of the tech landscape with ChatGPT back in 2022. As AI-driven search alternatives gain traction, Google faces increasing pressure to innovate and maintain its market leadership. The core of Google’s technical challenge revolves around effectively scaling transformer-based models for real-time search applications, ensuring both accuracy and speed while managing computational resources efficiently.

According to Robby Stein, vice president of product management at Google Search, this update unlocks new use cases for AI Mode. “Text-based results aren’t always optimal,” Stein stated during a press briefing. “Visual inspiration is often key, especially when exploring options like shoes or interior design, where seeing is believing.”

For example, users seeking bedroom decor ideas can input a prompt such as “Show me a maximalist inspo for my bedroom” and receive a curated set of images. Furthermore, users can refine the results with subsequent prompts, such as “bolder prints and dark tones,” to tailor the visual suggestions to their specific preferences, Stein explained.

AI Mode’s visual capabilities also extend to shopping. A search for “Barrel jeans that aren’t too baggy,” can now yield a range of shoppable options presented visually. Each image is linked directly to the retailer’s website, streamlining the purchase process for interested users, according to Google.

The company highlights that AI Mode’s visual results leverage the combined power of Google’s AI model Gemini 2.5, Google Search, Lens, and Image Search. The combination of these technologies represents a significant leap forward in AI-powered search, offering a more intuitive and comprehensive user experience.

“We believe this integration is a breakthrough in what’s possible with search,” Stein concluded. The move signifies Google’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of AI-driven innovation in the search arena. Industry analysts suggest that Google’s success in visually-driven search could significantly impact e-commerce and online advertising, potentially reshaping how users discover and purchase products online.