Google is now testing an AI Mode button inside the search bar on the search results page itself, giving users a faster path to AI-generated answers the moment they refine a query. Until now, the AI Mode entry point has mostly appeared on Google’s home page and in other surfaces, so placing it on the results page brings it one click closer to every follow-up search.
Where the new button shows up
The AI Mode button is being added to the search bar at the top of the results page, right where the standard search field sits after a user runs a query. That puts it in line of sight during refinement searches, the queries people type when they are not quite satisfied with the first round of results.
Google has had the AI Mode button in many other places for months, including the home page and various entry points across Search. The current test extends that placement to the in-page search bar used for follow-up queries.
How the test behaves in practice
The button does not appear every time. Even when it triggers for some searches, it does not show up for all search suggestions. That inconsistency is a hallmark of a live A/B test, where Google rolls the change out to a slice of users and a slice of queries to compare behavior.
A user testing the feature reported that they could still submit a regular web search with the AI Mode button present, so the button does not appear to block the normal search path. Whether every user gets that option, or whether some users are steered straight into AI Mode, is still part of what the test is measuring.
Why placement on the results page matters
Follow-up searches are a high-intent moment. A person lands on a results page, scans it, decides the answer is not there, and types a new query. That single search bar is the funnel for almost every refinement, and putting an AI Mode button there shortens the path from “I need a better answer” to “let AI take another shot.”
If Google ships this broadly, the results-page search bar becomes another surface where SEOs and content publishers need to think about visibility inside AI Mode, not just inside the traditional ten blue links. The shift also tracks with Google nudging users toward AI surfaces in other parts of Search, including recent changes where AI Overview links are routing users into AI Mode rather than out to web pages.
What to watch next
Two signals will tell us whether this is a permanent change. First, look for the button to appear across more query types and more user segments, not just the ones that currently trigger it. Second, look for whether Google keeps the standard search path one click away or folds it into a longer interaction that requires an extra step, such as pressing Enter to bypass AI Mode. The current test leaves both options open.
SEOs tracking AI search visibility can use a tool like SEOScanPro to audit how a site shows up in AI Mode and other AI surfaces, since the placement of this entry button directly affects how often a page is reached through AI refinement searches.
FAQ
Where is Google testing the new AI Mode button?
Google is testing the AI Mode button inside the search bar at the top of the search results page, so it appears when a user is already viewing results and types a follow-up query.
Does the AI Mode button replace the regular search button?
Not in every case. One user reported they could still run a regular web search while the AI Mode button was visible, though they had to press Enter to do so. Google is still running multiple test variants on how this works.
Does the AI Mode button show up for every search?
No. The test does not trigger the button for all queries or for all search suggestions, even when it appears for some searches from the same account. That points to a limited rollout rather than a full deployment.
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This article summarizes reporting from seroundtable.com.