Google has announced a back to school wave of Google Search AI mode updates that turn the Labs preview into a complete study companion. Students, parents, and teachers can now keep research, planning, and Q&A inside the results page instead of juggling multiple apps.
The new release is built around a simple use case: start with a broad question, drill into specifics, then organise findings for revision. AI Mode now follows that flow in one place, linking Google Lens, Canvas, and Search Live with generative answers so users can see a visual overview, talk through tricky concepts in real time, and save notes for later review.
Key additions include:
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Ask questions about images and PDFs – upload lecture slides or textbook pages on desktop and let AI Mode read the file and answer follow-up questions with source links.
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Canvas – a side panel where you can pin AI responses, draft outlines, and build study schedules that persist across sessions. File uploads from Drive will arrive in the coming months.
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Search Live – powered by Google Lens and Project Astra, this mobile feature lets you point the camera at a diagram or lab setup, start a live session, and discuss what the lens sees while Search supplies context.
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Ask Google about this page – a new option in the Chrome address bar that summarises highlighted content on any website or PDF and suggests next questions through AI Mode.
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AI Overview with images – concise answers now include auto-generated diagrams or concept art to make abstract ideas easier to understand at a glance.
Availability is staggered. Image and PDF uploads launch this week in the United States and India on desktop (English only). Canvas is rolling out first to Labs users in the US, while Search Live with video input reaches Android and iOS devices in the same region.
To try the features, sign in to a Google Account, open Chrome or the Google app, tap the Labs beaker icon, and enable AI Mode. Generative answers appear at the top of eligible searches, while Canvas and Search Live show up as buttons in the panel. You can turn AI Mode off from the same menu whenever you prefer classic results.
By folding Lens uploads, real-time camera help, and persistent canvases into a single interface, these Google Search AI mode updates position Search as a one-stop academic assistant and tighten the race with ChatGPT.
