Google’s search engine has been our go-to for years when we need quick answers. But now, they’re shaking things up with Search Live, a fresh feature tucked into AI Mode that turns the search bar into a chatty sidekick you can talk to. Basically, it lets you fire off voice commands to Google’s AI chatbot like it’s no big deal.
Search Live is hitting U.S. iOS and Android users right now—you just tap the “Live” icon in the Google app and start chatting. Throw it a practical question like, “How do I keep my linen dress from wrinkling in a suitcase?” and it’ll shoot back a clear, friendly audio reply, complete with handy web links to dig deeper. Ask a follow-up like, “What if it still wrinkles?” and it rolls with it, dishing out spot-on advice without skipping a beat. Google calls it a way to “have free-flowing conversations with Search on the go,” spotlighting how easy it is to use hands-free with those instant audio answers.
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To jump into Search Live, you’ve got to sign up for Google’s AI Mode Experiments through Search Labs, where they test out the latest tricks. Once it’s on, that “Live” icon pops up in your Google app, ready to tackle voice questions on your phone. For now, it’s all about voice, though Google’s dropping hints about future camera tricks, probably linked to Project Astra’s live view stuff. Being exclusive to AI Mode testers means it’s not everywhere yet, but the U.S. rollout shows they’re pretty pumped about where this could go. Their blog post nails the vibe: “Talk with and listen to Search hands-free” while picking up extra info through those curated links.
Search Live pulls from Project Astra, the same tech behind Gemini Live, Google’s chatty AI. That connection lets it handle spoken questions with smart, context-savvy replies, making it more than just a voice search gimmick. It’s built to catch your follow-ups, so the convo flows smooth without you having to start over. Google’s blog points this out, saying Search Live gives you “AI-generated audio responses” paired with web links, mixing the speed of voice with the depth of old-school search results. It also taps into Google’s massive data pool— Maps, shopping info, web crawls, and more—to piece together answers that feel thorough yet easy to follow.
What really hooks you is how it ties into Google’s search backbone, pulling from a wider, up-to-the-minute web index than most standalone chatbots. Their promise of “learn more with links” keeps you from getting stuck in an AI echo chamber—it points you to the real sources so you can check facts or dive deeper.
