Google's AI enhancement further includes real-time video search, Canvas integration, PDF upload feature, and numerous additional functionalities.
Google is set to enhance its AI Mode with a series of new features, following the integration of Gemini 2.5 Pro. These updates aim to provide users with a more interactive, context-driven, and comprehensive search experience.
Upload of Images and PDF Files
One of the key enhancements is the ability for users to upload images and PDF documents directly into AI Mode on both mobile and desktop devices. This new feature for desktop users will soon be followed by the rollout of PDF uploads. With these updates, AI Mode can analyse the content, answer complex questions about the files, and provide contextualized responses augmented by web information with citations. Support for more file types, including files from Google Drive, will be introduced in the future.
Canvas Feature
The Canvas feature is an interactive side panel designed to help users create and organize plans or study guides over multiple sessions. Users can start a Canvas (for example, for exam preparation) and iteratively add, edit, and organize information, including uploading personal materials like notes or syllabi to personalize the context. Canvas enables follow-up questions and topical organization and is initially available on desktop for U.S. AI Mode Labs participants.
Search Live Updates
Google is also introducing Search Live updates, which add real-time video support integrated with Google Lens. This feature allows users to get live help by sharing what they see during a search session. Search Live acts like having an expert on call who can visually analyze elements through video and assist with complex queries using related web links. This feature enhances AI Mode's interactivity and specificity in understanding visual and real-time contexts.
Smarter AI Overviews
Post-Gemini 2.5 Pro, AI Mode shows improved reasoning by breaking down questions into subtopics and searching them simultaneously to provide more relevant, comprehensive answers.
Expanded Device and Language Support
These new AI Mode capabilities are launching on desktop and web versions, initially in English, in markets including the U.S. and India for users aged 18 and older.
In summary, the Gemini 2.5 Pro upgrade substantially boosts Google AI Mode by enabling document and image uploads for deeper content-driven queries, adding a persistent organizational Canvas tool, bringing interactive live video search assistance, and enhancing AI’s reasoning capabilities to deliver more nuanced and actionable search experiences.
The new features are rolling out to stable versions in the coming weeks. The Canvas feature will be available on desktop web in the U.S. for those enrolled in the AI Mode Labs experiment. Search Live with video is being rolled out to testers in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week. Image upload is already available on mobile, while PDF upload will allow detailed questions about documents.
[1] Google's AI Mode gets a major upgrade with new features
[2] Google AI Mode gets a major upgrade, adds Canvas for planning, Search Live for real-time video support
[3] Google AI Mode is getting a major upgrade with Canvas, Search Live, and more
[4] Google AI Mode is getting a major upgrade with Canvas, Search Live, and more
[1] Google's AI Mode gets a major upgrade with new features, including the ability to upload images and PDF documents, the interactive Canvas feature for planning and organizing, and Search Live for real-time video support, all aiming to provide a more context-driven and comprehensive search experience.
[2] Google AI Mode gets a major upgrade, adding the Canvas feature for creating and organizing plans or study guides, Search Live for interactive live video assistance, and enhancements to artificial intelligence capabilities for more nuanced and actionable search experiences.
