Google Adds Dedicated Plus Button to Search Homepage for AI Mode Access

Google Streamlines AI Mode Access with Homepage Button

Google is expanding its AI Mode rollout by introducing a dedicated plus button directly on the Search homepage. The new interface element provides users with a more prominent and accessible entry point to the company's generative AI-powered search capabilities, reducing friction in the user journey toward AI-assisted search results.

The plus button appears alongside the traditional search box, offering users a quick way to toggle into AI Mode without navigating through menus or settings. This design choice reflects Google's broader strategy to make AI features more discoverable and integrated into everyday search workflows.

Strategic Integration into Core Search Experience

The homepage button represents a significant shift in how Google is promoting its AI Mode feature. Rather than burying the functionality within settings or requiring users to actively seek it out, the company is now making it a first-class citizen in the search interface.

Key implementation details include:

• Placement directly on the homepage search interface
• Visual prominence through a dedicated plus icon
• Seamless transition into AI Mode without page reloads
• Consistent design language across desktop and mobile platforms

This approach aligns with Google's broader product philosophy of reducing friction between users and advanced features. By making AI Mode immediately visible and accessible, the company aims to increase adoption rates among its massive user base.

Competitive Positioning in AI Search

The move comes as search engines increasingly compete on AI capabilities. Microsoft's Bing and OpenAI's SearchGPT have already established AI-first search experiences, prompting Google to accelerate its own AI integration efforts. The homepage button is part of a larger initiative to make Google Search feel more AI-native rather than treating generative capabilities as an afterthought.

Google's AI Mode provides users with more conversational, in-depth responses compared to traditional search results. The feature synthesizes information from multiple sources and presents it in a more narrative format, catering to users seeking comprehensive answers rather than quick snippets.

User Experience Implications

The introduction of the plus button signals Google's confidence in the AI Mode feature's maturity and value proposition. Rather than testing it in limited markets or behind experimental flags, the company is now promoting it as a core search capability worthy of homepage real estate.

Expected user benefits:

• Faster access to AI-powered search capabilities
• Clearer visual indication that AI Mode exists
• Reduced cognitive load in finding advanced features
• Improved discoverability for new users unfamiliar with AI Mode

The button's placement and design suggest Google has conducted extensive user research to determine optimal positioning. The plus icon itself carries intuitive meaning—suggesting addition or expansion of capabilities—which may help users understand the feature's purpose at a glance.

Broader Implications for Search Evolution

This interface change reflects the ongoing transformation of search from a keyword-matching exercise into a more conversational, AI-assisted experience. Google's willingness to dedicate homepage real estate to AI Mode indicates the company views this as a permanent shift rather than a temporary experiment.

The rollout also suggests Google is moving beyond the "AI as optional feature" positioning toward "AI as core functionality." This represents a fundamental reimagining of what search means in an era of large language models and generative AI.

Key Sources

• SearchEngineLand: Coverage of Google's AI Mode button rollout on the homepage search interface
• 9to5Google: Reporting on Google's AI Mode search bar shortcuts and interface redesigns
• SE Roundtable: Analysis of Google's AI Mode button integration in the Search app