Google tests real-time AI voice chats in Search

Google is building Search Live into AI Mode, allowing you to have a back-and-forth voice conversation with the company’s AI chatbot right from its search engine. The test, which is rolling out now to Labs users in the US, currently doesn’t support camera-sharing, but Google plans to add the capability in the “coming months.”

Search Live lets you interact with the company’s “custom” version of Gemini and search the web in real time. The feature currently lives in the Google app on Android and iOS, where it takes things a step further by giving you the ability to point your camera at something and ask questions about it out loud.

You can try out Search Live in AI Mode by opting into the AI Mode experiment in Google Labs. From there, head to the Google app on Android or iOS and tap the new “Live” icon. You can then ask a question out loud, like “What are some tips for preventing a linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?” The AI chatbot will provide an audio response that you can reply to with another related question, like “What should I do if it still wrinkles?” Search Live will also present you with relevant links as you chat.

Google says Search Live operates in the background, letting you continue your conversation with the chatbot when navigating to other apps. You can also tap the “transcript” button to see a text version of the response and reply by typing. Google will save past Search Live conversations in your AI Mode history.