Google has recently changed parts of its main search page, shifting more attention toward artificial intelligence technology. The updated AI Mode, now available to more users, appears in a prominent spot on Google.com (the home page). As spotted by some users on social media, it has taken over the space where the familiar "I'm Feeling Lucky" button used to exist.
This AI Mode was launched more broadly earlier in the month. It gives users a long, AI-written answer to their search questions, instead of showing short text snippets or links as before. In some account types, the button appears near the search bar. In others, it completely takes over the place where “I’m Feeling Lucky” used to be. The exact layout can depend on whether the user has AI Mode switched on and which test group they belong to.
The feature builds on last year’s AI Overviews rollout, but this new approach offers more full-length responses. These results come on a separate page, where users are shown a complete answer created by the AI system. People can use this by typing their query as usual and then clicking the AI Mode button, or directly going to google.com/aimode.
Google commented to media outlets that this homepage version of AI Mode is part of several ongoing experiments. It has not been declared as a permanent change.
The "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, once famous for skipping the search results and sending users straight to a selected page, has been less used in recent years. Data from 2007 suggested that only around 1% of searches involved the feature. Today, most people prefer typing directly into the browser address bar, making homepage buttons like this one less relevant.
While this change might seem small at first glance, it reflects a larger shift in how Google wants users to interact with its platform. The trend is going away from showing a list of links and moving more toward delivering one complete AI response.
Other search companies are also racing to bring AI features into their platforms. Microsoft’s Bing was first among major players to integrate an AI assistant, powered by OpenAI technology, into its search results. Startups like Perplexity and You.com are pushing even further, offering direct answers and cited summaries instead of traditional link listings. These developments are increasing the competitive pressure on Google, which for the first time in decades is facing real risk to its dominance in the search space. With more people now relying on ChatGPT and similar AI bots to find quick information or even do research, Google is no longer just competing with search engines, it is competing with answer engines. For the company, this AI shift is not only a product challenge but an existential one.
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This AI Mode was launched more broadly earlier in the month. It gives users a long, AI-written answer to their search questions, instead of showing short text snippets or links as before. In some account types, the button appears near the search bar. In others, it completely takes over the place where “I’m Feeling Lucky” used to be. The exact layout can depend on whether the user has AI Mode switched on and which test group they belong to.
The feature builds on last year’s AI Overviews rollout, but this new approach offers more full-length responses. These results come on a separate page, where users are shown a complete answer created by the AI system. People can use this by typing their query as usual and then clicking the AI Mode button, or directly going to google.com/aimode.
Google commented to media outlets that this homepage version of AI Mode is part of several ongoing experiments. It has not been declared as a permanent change.
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The "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, once famous for skipping the search results and sending users straight to a selected page, has been less used in recent years. Data from 2007 suggested that only around 1% of searches involved the feature. Today, most people prefer typing directly into the browser address bar, making homepage buttons like this one less relevant.
While this change might seem small at first glance, it reflects a larger shift in how Google wants users to interact with its platform. The trend is going away from showing a list of links and moving more toward delivering one complete AI response.
Other search companies are also racing to bring AI features into their platforms. Microsoft’s Bing was first among major players to integrate an AI assistant, powered by OpenAI technology, into its search results. Startups like Perplexity and You.com are pushing even further, offering direct answers and cited summaries instead of traditional link listings. These developments are increasing the competitive pressure on Google, which for the first time in decades is facing real risk to its dominance in the search space. With more people now relying on ChatGPT and similar AI bots to find quick information or even do research, Google is no longer just competing with search engines, it is competing with answer engines. For the company, this AI shift is not only a product challenge but an existential one.
Read next:
• These Are the Common Email Phrases That Seem Polite but Read as Passive Aggressive
• Google Tests New "Discussions" Feature for Sports Searches in Mobile Beta
