Google announced on Wednesday that it’s introducing a new shortcut button for AI Mode in Chrome on mobile devices, making it easier for users to engage with its generative AI search assistant directly from the browser.

The AI Mode shortcut will now appear under the search bar on the “New Tab” page in Chrome, giving users one-tap access to a tool that lets them ask complex questions, follow up with context-rich prompts, and explore topics more deeply — all without leaving Google Search.

🌍 Expanding Global Access

The new shortcut is launching in the U.S. this week, with plans to roll out to 160 additional countries in the coming weeks. Google says AI Mode will also become available in more languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and others.

This follows Google’s broader global expansion of AI Mode earlier this year, which brought the feature to 180 new countries and added support for several major languages.

💡 Competing With AI Search Rivals

The move appears to be part of Google’s strategy to keep users within its ecosystem, encouraging them to use AI Mode instead of rival tools like Perplexity AI or OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search. By placing the shortcut front and center on mobile, Google is betting on convenience to drive adoption.

⚙️ Recent AI Mode Upgrades

Since launching AI Mode in March 2025, Google has continuously added new capabilities:

• Agentic features (added in August and expanded this week) that can now help users book event tickets, restaurant reservations, and beauty or wellness appointments directly within AI Mode.
• A Canvas feature (introduced in July) that lets users build study plans and organize research across multiple sessions using a side panel.
• Google Lens integration, allowing users to ask questions about what’s on their desktop or mobile screen.

With these updates, AI Mode is evolving into more than just a search enhancement — it’s becoming a personalized AI assistant tightly integrated into Google’s broader ecosystem of productivity and search tools.

Bottom line: The new Chrome shortcut is Google’s latest step in making AI Mode more accessible and habitual for mobile users — and a clear effort to stay ahead in the rapidly growing field of AI-powered search.