There will be a clear difference between Gemini Mode and AI Mode. It is the assistant. This is already the case, and LLMs will continue to widen this gap. The similarities make me wonder if this is confusing to most users.
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Last month, Google AI Mode began allowing subscribers to switch between models and Gemini 2.5.0 Pro. I was surprised. Google released “Deep Search”seven months after Gemini made “Deep Research”available.
This week, AI Mode began testing Search Live using video input similar to Gemini Live but without screen sharing. The last two features had been announced at I/O in May, but AI Mode’s addition of “Canvas” was a surprise. Canvas is a document that can be edited by highlighting the desired portion and typing a prompt into the side chat. Gemini introduced it in March, with equal emphasis on text and coding.
I was told by Google that people expect modern LLM-powered products to have capabilities such as deep research and canvas. It makes sense that the other new feature announced by Google for AI Mode is the ability to upload PDFs with your prompt.
This duplication will continue in the near future with Project Mariner adding agentic capabilities to AI Mode, which can help you buy tickers. Meanwhile, it will be “Agent Mode”for Gemini. AI Mode will also be able to use your Gmail account and other Google applications in order to determine your preferences.
As an aside, Google needs to make AI Mode available in more countries.
While most people think of Google as just a search engine it is a tool which has to evolve with the times.
I’m worried about the optics and can see why people believe that AI Mode — and Search in a broader sense — should merge with Gemini so people know which AI app from Google they should use. Gemini losing its distinctive branding, and getting a 4-color logo didn’t help.
Gemini can do things that a tool like Google Search is not capable of. People are familiar with the concept of a smart assistant on mobile that can be used for controlling their phone and other devices at home, accessing their notes and files and checking calendars.
This separation is important because LLM assistants are more powerful and can help you in your daily life.
This is still several years away. The best thing that the Gemini app could do is release these next-generation features, such as more immersive phone control and proactive experiences. Frontier features such as yesterday’s Deep Think may be exciting for those who are on the bleeding edge. But it’s something similar to the I/O example where Gemini sees a test on your calendar and helps you prepare that will make a real difference.
