Google is reportedly testing the removal of its dedicated AI Mode button from the Search bar for a limited group of users, signalling another possible change to its search interface. The experiment appears to affect the web version of Google Search, where the shortcut provides direct access to the company's artificial intelligence-powered search experience. However, the change is not believed to be a permanent removal, and AI Mode continues to remain available to other users.

The development came to light after technology observer Len Raleigh reported on October 30 that the AI Mode shortcut had disappeared while using Google Search in Chrome's Incognito mode. In a post on X, Raleigh said the button was missing in that particular browsing session but remained visible on his other devices and in separate sessions. His observation suggested that Google could be testing different versions of its Search interface among selected users.

The reported experiment is believed to be part of Google's ongoing efforts to evaluate how people interact with different Search features. The company regularly tests interface changes with limited groups before deciding whether to introduce them more widely. Removing the dedicated AI Mode shortcut could help Google examine how users engage with the feature when it is not directly displayed alongside the conventional Search bar. However, Google has not officially explained the purpose of the reported test.

Also Read: Bigger Screen, Smoother Scrolling? Redmi Turbo 6 Max May Offer Both

Importantly, the reported change does not mean that Google is discontinuing AI Mode. The feature itself remains accessible through other entry points, and there is currently no indication that the company plans to permanently withdraw it. The experiment also could not be independently replicated by technology industry observers, making it difficult to establish how widely the change has been introduced.

Google first added the dedicated AI Mode button to Search in May 2025, giving users a separate way to access its conversational search experience. Unlike conventional searches, AI Mode allows users to ask complex questions, receive AI-generated responses drawing on multiple information sources and continue exploring topics through follow-up queries. The feature was subsequently expanded to India in June 2025, with support for voice and image-based searches.

Google has continued expanding AI Mode with additional capabilities, integrations and advertising features. The company recently introduced AI Mode advertisements in India and nine other countries, while also rolling out multi-turn advertisements in the United States. The reported removal of the Search shortcut therefore appears to be a limited interface experiment rather than evidence of a broader retreat from Google's AI-powered search strategy.

Also Read: No Pills, Just A Wearable? Elon Musk's Chinese Rival Eyes Appetite Suppression Technology