Google Expands AI-Powered Search Features in India

Google is strengthening its influence in India by launching its AI-powered conversational search feature, Search Live, in English and Hindi. Additionally, the tech giant is expanding its AI Mode to accommodate seven more Indian languages. These strategic moves reinforce Google’s commitment to one of its fastest-growing markets.

Search Live, which debuted in the U.S. earlier this year, is built on Google’s Project Astra technology. The feature allows users to utilize their phone cameras for real-time, interactive assistance by engaging in dynamic conversations based on the visual context from the camera feed. With this launch, India becomes the second market globally to benefit from Search Live, reflecting the nation’s significant base of early AI adopters.

“People in India are power users of multimodal search, forming our largest user base for both voice and visual search globally,” said Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management for Search at Google.

To access Search Live, users can tap the “Live” icon under the search bar in the Google app, or open Lens and select “Live” from the bottom of the screen. The rollout begins today and will continue over the coming weeks.

In addition to English and Hindi, Google’s AI Mode is now available in Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. This expansion is part of Google’s broader initiative to make AI-powered search accessible in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Google’s custom Gemini model for Search enhances AI Mode’s ability to understand the intricacies of local languages, ensuring the tool is both helpful and relevant. Despite facing some criticism for impacting search traffic to online publishers, Google remains committed to improving user experience through AI innovation.