Besides the widget shortcut, Google is making AI Mode faster to access with one-tap search on Android and iOS.
Previously, launching AI Mode from the shortcut beneath the Search bar in the Google app or widget would bring you to an introductory homepage. You’d then have to touch the “Ask AI Mode” field before you could start typing.
Opening AI Mode now immediately takes you to the input box with the keyboard open. The header just shows the ‘G’ logo (and close button), while the suggested queries carousel disappears after you enter text for a minimalist look.
With the previous homepage no longer available, you cannot quickly access conversation history. Google tells us to soon expect direct access from the text field.
Old vs. new
One-tap AI Mode access is live on both Google for Android and iOS. On the latter platform, Google has introduced a very slick animation. Tapping the AI Mode button will expand the usual Search field to encompass your entire screen as the keyboard pops up.
As this occurs, there’s a four-color glow around the expanding perimeter that looks very nice. It fades out just as everything settles, while closing AI Mode also results in a visual effect. There’s no equivalent animation on Android right now, but there are other colorful touches.
This follows Google dropping the Labs waitlist for AI Mode yesterday, while redesigning the desktop UI with quick access to history via a side panel and adding more visual elements for places and products. Google Lens search on mobile was introduced last month.
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