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Google Expands AI-Powered Search Live and AI Mode Across India and New Languages

Cansin Cengiz

08 Oct 2025 — 2 min read

Google Brings AI-Powered Search Live and Expanded AI Mode to India

Google is accelerating its AI search offerings in India, introducing its conversational Search Live feature in English and Hindi, and expanding AI Mode to seven additional Indian languages. This move bolsters Google’s presence in one of its fastest-growing and most tech-savvy markets.

What is Search Live?

First launched in the U.S. in July 2025, Search Live builds on Project Astra technology and is available via AI Mode in the Google app. The feature enables users to point their phone camera at objects and receive real-time, AI-powered assistance. It supports interactive conversations, leveraging visual cues from the camera feed to deliver more contextual and helpful answers.

India: The First Global Expansion

India is now the second country after the U.S. to receive Search Live. This is a strategic decision, as Indian users are early adopters of emerging AI technologies, helping Google refine its products with diverse data. For example, Indian feedback has shaped innovations like the Gemini Nano Banana model.

How to Access Search Live

Open the Google app and tap the “Live” icon under the search bar
Or, open Google Lens, then select “Live” at the bottom of the screen

Search Live is rolling out in phases starting today, reaching more Indian users over the next few weeks.

AI Mode Hits More Indian Languages

Google has extended AI Mode support to seven new Indian languages: Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. This brings the total number of supported languages worldwide to more than 35, making AI-powered search accessible in over 200 countries and territories.

Why India Matters to Google’s AI Strategy

Hema Budaraju, Google’s VP of Product Management for Search, highlighted India’s influence: "People in India are power users of multimodal search, forming our largest user base for both voice and visual search globally." India’s diverse linguistic and cultural context provides valuable data to enhance Google’s AI systems.

Gemini, AI Mode & Overlapping Features

Search Live is powered by a custom version of Gemini, Google’s advanced AI model. It’s worth noting the Gemini app offers a similar capability called Gemini Live, which might cause some confusion among users.

AI Mode, introduced in the U.S. in March 2025 and launched in India in June, lets users ask complex, multi-part questions through an AI-powered interface. Its global rollout continues with support for more languages and intelligent features.

Publisher Impact and Ongoing Debates

As Google’s AI search features grow, concerns have arisen about their effect on web traffic for online publishers. Google maintains that its AI-driven search tools do not harm website visits, though the conversation around the impact continues.