In response to "Code Red" from OpenAI, Google is rolling out a major change to its search engine: the merging of AI Overviews and AI Mode. The goal is to remove any friction so users can dig into a topic without ever changing interfaces, a feature currently being tested worldwide on mobile that is, however, getting a particular start in France.
Key takeaways:
- Merging modes: Google removes the barrier between classic search and the chatbot; one click is enough to switch from the summary to the conversation.
- Response to OpenAI: This integration aims to convert the 2 billion users of AI Overviews into active Gemini users.
- Mobile rollout: The test is global but currently limited to smartphones.
- Situation in France: In France, "AI Mode" is being tested separately, with AI Overviews still blocked by negotiations with publishers.
The end of friction: a unified interface
Until now, Google's AI-assisted search experience was fragmented. On one hand, you had AI Overviews, those instant summaries that appear above the regular results for a quick answer. On the other, the AI Mode, a separate tab dedicated to complex conversational exchanges like ChatGPT.
“ Do I want a quick answer or start a conversation? ” Google decided to remove this friction. Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google Search, summarizes this new philosophy: " You shouldn't have to think about where or how to ask your question. »
(1/2) Today we're starting to test a new way to seamlessly go deeper into AI Mode directly from the Search results page on mobile, globally.
This brings us closer to our vision for Search: just ask whatever's on your mind – no matter how long or complex – and find exactly what you… pic.twitter.com/mcCS7oT2FI
— Robby Stein (@rmstein) December 1, 2025
From now on, the AI Overview serves as a springboard. If the initial summary prompts new questions, you can follow up directly with additional questions (" ") without leaving the results page. seamlessly delve deeper The engine then smoothly switches into conversational mode, retaining the full context of your original search.
A shift in gears in response to the OpenAI threat
This strategic move is no accident. It comes as OpenAI has gone into "Code Red" to accelerate ChatGPT development in response to Google's growing power. The Mountain View company is playing its trump card here: its massive user base.
The numbers speak for themselves. While Gemini reached impressive growth with more than 650 million monthly users in November, it's still far from the firepower of the classic search engine. AI Overviews already reach 2 billion users per month. By merging the two, Google hopes to create a natural bridge that will turn its billions of searchers into Gemini users, aided by technical improvements like the Nano Banana image model.
The particular case of France: a mixed experience
If the rollout is global, France finds itself in a paradoxical situation. According to some users, Google appears to have started testing the "AI Mode" button on French mobile devices… without AI Overviews.
@LelloucheNico AI mode available in France pic.twitter.com/3JNWAwNsB6
— LENFANT
(@LENFANT13071990) December 2, 2025
(@LENFANT13071990) Because of the still-tense negotiations with press publishers and the oversight of the Competition Authority, automatic summaries (AI Overviews) are still not deployed in France. The result: the unified experience promised by Google is fragmented here. French users see the conversational option appear sporadically, somewhat hanging in the air, without the natural anchor that the generative summary should provide. A half-hearted integration that reflects the difficulties Google faces in aligning its technological vision with European regulatory realities.
The article "Google: merger of AI Overviews and AI Mode, mixed launch in France" has been published on the site Abondance.
