{"id":1839,"date":"2026-09-23T01:26:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T01:26:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/feedsta.ai\/blog\/google-testing-ai-mode-button-inside-search-results-page\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T01:26:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T01:26:37","slug":"google-testing-ai-mode-button-inside-search-results-page","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feedsta.ai\/blog\/google-testing-ai-mode-button-inside-search-results-page\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Testing AI Mode Button Inside the Search Results Page"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google is now testing an AI Mode button inside the search bar on its search results page, a placement that puts the company’s AI search experience one click away from every follow-up query a user types. Until now, the AI Mode button has been visible on Google’s home page, and adding it directly inside the search results page marks a notable expansion of where the feature surfaces.<\/p>\n

The change was first spotted on September 15, 2026 by Dwayne Cubbins, who shared a screenshot showing the AI Mode button appearing next to the standard search bar while browsing results. The button does not appear for every query or every search suggestion, and standard web search still works when it is present. Google has not announced the test publicly, and it is unclear how widely it is being rolled out.<\/p>\n

What does the new AI Mode button look like?<\/h2>\n

On the search results page, the search bar is the rectangular input field at the top of the page where users type a new query after seeing results. Normally, that bar only offers a plain text field with no AI-specific control. In the new test, an AI Mode button appears alongside it, giving users the option to route their next query to Google’s AI search experience instead of the standard list of links.<\/p>\n

The button appears in the same location where users would typically see icons such as a microphone for voice search or a camera for Google Lens, blending into the existing interface rather than sitting as a separate, prominent call-to-action.<\/p>\n

Why is Google moving the AI Mode button onto the results page?<\/h2>\n

The placement change reflects a broader pattern of Google weaving AI Mode deeper into its search product. The button has already appeared on the Google home page and inside other surfaces across the search experience. Putting it on the results page targets a specific moment in the user journey: the follow-up search, when a user has finished reading a set of results and is ready to ask a new question.<\/p>\n

Routing that follow-up into AI Mode gives Google a way to keep users inside its generative search interface for the second, third, and later turns of a session, rather than only catching them at the very first search from the home page. Follow-up queries are often where users refine or expand on their original intent, so this is a high-leverage spot for conversion from classic search to AI search.<\/p>\n

Is Google forcing users into AI Mode?<\/h2>\n

The current test does not force AI Mode. Even when the AI Mode button appears on the search results page, standard web search still works. Users can still hit Enter to run a regular query, and the button is additive rather than a replacement for the existing search control.<\/p>\n

That said, the placement choice is itself a soft nudge. By parking the button right next to the search input, Google is making AI Mode the most visible next action a user can take after reading results, increasing the chance that users who might otherwise stick with classic blue links will try the AI experience at least once.<\/p>\n

How reliable is the test right now?<\/h2>\n

The button does not appear for every query or every user, and even within a session it can show up for some search suggestions and not others. The variability suggests this is a limited A\/B test rather than a full rollout, and Google has not commented publicly on timing, eligibility, or plans to expand it.<\/p>\n

For SEOs and site owners, the practical takeaway is that AI Mode is now reachable from more entry points across Google, which is consistent with the broader pattern of AI Mode showing up alongside Google Ads, Google Merchant Center, and AI Overviews. Tracking how often a site appears in AI Mode answers is becoming a separate visibility question from classic blue-link rankings.<\/p>\n

What this means for businesses and SEOs<\/h2>\n

Each new placement of the AI Mode button is another surface where Google decides what an AI-generated answer looks like and which sources it cites. That makes AI visibility a distinct measurement problem from traditional SEO, because the answer is one generated response rather than a ranked list of ten blue links. A national directory of business profiles with AI-powered business score tracking, such as BizScoreAI<\/a>, is built to track exactly that kind of listing visibility across AI search engines.<\/p>\n

FAQ<\/h2>\n

Where is Google now testing the AI Mode button?<\/h3>\n

Google is testing the AI Mode button inside the search bar on the search results page, not just on the home page.<\/p>\n

Does the AI Mode button replace standard search on the results page?<\/h3>\n

No. Standard web search still works when the AI Mode button appears, and users can still press Enter to run a regular query.<\/p>\n

How widely is the AI Mode button on the results page being tested?<\/h3>\n

The button does not appear for every query or every user, and Google has not announced the test publicly, so the rollout appears limited for now.<\/p>\n

Related coverage<\/h2>\n