Google's 'AI Mode' launched in UAE, MENA region

Dubai: Google is rolling out its most powerful AI search experience, AI Mode, in English across the Middle East and North Africa, with the feature gradually becoming available to users in the UAE over the next few days.

Powered by a custom version of the latest Gemini 2.5 model, AI Mode is designed to handle complex, multi-part questions that would previously have required multiple searches, Google explained in a statement.

For residents in the UAE, this could mean easier tasks like comparing the latest smartphones, planning a road trip across the Emirates, or understanding complex how-to guides.

According to Google, early users of the feature are asking questions that are two to three times longer than a standard search query.

The new feature is truly multimodal, allowing users to ask questions using text, voice, or even an image. Simply tap the microphone icon to speak your query, or upload a photo and ask a question about it.

Behind the scenes, AI Mode uses a "query fan-out" technique, which breaks down a single question into several subtopics and searches them all at once. This allows Google to dive deeper into the web and find highly relevant content that a traditional search might miss. The company said this would help people access a wider range of information and perspectives from diverse sources on the internet.

AI Mode will appear as a tab on the Google Search results page and in the Google app for Android and iOS as it rolls out to everyone.