AI Mode Will Replace Traditional SERP: Sundar Pichai Confirms

Google is making the biggest shift in how we search since PageRank. So, what exactly did Sundar Pichai just reveal? Let’s see…

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google has officially confirmed in an exclusive interview with Lex Fridman that Google AI Mode currently available in a separate tab is set to be gradually integrated into the main Google Search experience.

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This is not just a feature rollout. It is a fundamental transformation of how billions of people around the world access information every day.

“The current plan is AI Mode will remain in a separate tab,” said Pichai. “But over time, we will keep migrating it to the main page.”

Wait, what?

Yes, this is the clearest acknowledgment yet that the future of Google Search is conversational, AI-powered and deeply integrated with Gemini Google’s advanced large language model (LLM) engine.

What Is Google AI Mode and Why Should You Care?

If you have used the Gemini-powered AI Mode, you have already gotten a glimpse of what search looks like in 2025 and beyond.

It is powered by Gemini, which can perform what Lex Fridman called “query fan-out” , the ability to run multiple searches at once, aggregate the best findings and offer them as structured, insightful answers.

Instead of typing in a question and getting ten blue links, you receive a smart, contextual, often conversational response that pulls together information from across the web. It is like having a super-research assistant at your fingertips.

But here is the important part that AI Mode does not just give you the answer but it shows its work. You get citations, links, summaries and even explanations for how the answer was formed.

It feels less like a search engine and more like a dialogue. And now, Google plans to bring that experience directly into the main search page.

Let me repeat that: the Google homepage, the one you visit 10 times a day is slowly becoming an AI-native experience.

Is the Traditional Search Experience Going Away?

Not exactly and this is not happening overnight. Pichai emphasized that AI Mode will stay as a separate tab for innovative features which allows Google to test and fine-tune experiences before incorporating them into general search results.

But the migration is happening. And it is happening because the early data is really good.

“AI Overviews have improved the product. Early metrics for AI Mode are very encouraging,” said Pichai.

Let’s break this down.

According to Sundar, internal testing and rollout data, users spend more time on the page, ask more detailed follow-up questions and click through to higher-quality content sources. That is not just speculation. That is measurable user behavior and it is driving this evolution.

So Why Didn’t Google Say This at I/O?

This is the million-dollar question. Google’s Head of Search, Liz Reid, had hinted at AI Mode being the future during Google I/O 2025, but did not go into details. Her answer was… vague.

In contrast, Lex Fridman managed to get Sundar Pichai to spell it out in a calm, revealing one-on-one exchange. The answer was simple yet groundbreaking: AI Mode is not an experiment anymore. It is the roadmap.

What Does This Mean for Publishers?

Pichai did not introduce anything new in terms of policy, just a reiteration. Google remains committed to supporting journalism. While AI will play a greater role in delivering information, traffic to publishers remains a priority and Google will continue to send users to original reporting and verified sites.

He mentioned that higher-quality referrals are a direct outcome of AI integration. People are no longer asking just “What is…” but rather “How does this work?” or “Compare these two complex concepts.”

These deeper questions often lead users to more substantive, valuable web pages.

In fact, internal metrics shared by Sundar show that AI Overviews have improved user satisfaction and boosted engagement significantly.

AI Mode for Non-English Speakers

One of the most moving points in the interview came when Lex Fridman highlighted how AI Mode democratizes information access.

Let’s say a user in Brazil is researching quantum computing. Most resources? In English.

With AI Mode powered by Gemini, the system can translate, summarize and contextualize English language content for a Portuguese speaker in seconds breaking down a historically massive language barrier.

“It expands the web for everyone,” Fridman noted.

And this is not theoretical; early user data shows 30–40% higher engagement from non-English users when interacting with Gemini-powered results versus traditional search.

What Happens to Monetization of Ads in AI Mode? 

Another pressing question Fridman raised: What is the future of ads in an AI-dominant search world?

Pichai’s response was diplomatic, yet strategic.

“Right now, our focus is on the organic experience,” he stated, adding that ads will follow the same path eventually integrated seamlessly, with contextual relevance, and “in a classy, non-annoying way.”

This opens the door to a new kind of ad experience. Think less of sidebar banners and more of contextual summaries that recommend products and services based on what the user is actually asking.

It also aligns with Google’s broader push into subscription models and areas they see growing as users seek premium, ad-free and AI-enhanced experiences.

Are We Ready to Shop with AI Agentic Experiences?

One of the most futuristic segments of the discussion revolved around agentic experiences. Pichai likened it to shopping:

“Some people shop in stores, others online. Now you’ll have people shopping through AI agents.”

Yes, Google believes in a three-way coexistence: physical, digital and agentic.

Imagine telling your AI, “Find me a sustainable, blue denim jacket under $100 with next-day delivery” and it not only finds it, but compares sites, filters based on ethical sourcing and handles your checkout with preferences you have stored.

Your AI agent goes to work, searches, compares, filters by sentiment and reviews and shows you options, already in your cart.

That is agentic commerce. And it is coming faster than we think.

Human vs. Agentic Web

To wrap it all up, Pichai introduced a thought-provoking concept: the two-layer internet.

• The Human Web – The websites we see, read, interact with humans. These are designed for people, rich in UX and storytelling.
• The Agentic Web – Structured data and semantic content that AI agents consume, understand and act upon.

In other words, the web is not going away and it is splitting into two intelligent systems. And businesses that build for both layers will thrive.

Is AI Mode the Biggest Change in Google Search after Penguin and Panda?

Let us be clear that Google is not switching a button overnight. As Pichai noted, the evolution will be gradual and data-driven.

So the next time you search and see an AI Overview summarizing five websites with contextual fluency and multi-lingual finesse, remember: this is not an enhancement. It is the new baseline. Welcome to the next era of Search. Let us see where it takes us.

Of course, Panda and Penguin helped users find quality websites using Google. However, Google’s AI Mode and Overviews offer a different approach to achieving a similar goal.