Google Chrome for Android Tests “Search AI Mode” Prompt in Address Bar

In the latest Canary version of Chrome for Android, Google is testing a significant change to the address bar. The familiar prompt “Search Google or type URL” has been replaced with “Search AI Mode or type URL.”

AI Mode in Chrome including from the address bar on Android, works for queries if you’re signed into your Google Account and the feature is available in your region. Otherwise, you may be prompted to opt into Search Labs when entering a query using AI Mode.

At first glance, it may seem like a simple wording update. But make no mistake: it actually shows that Chrome is moving toward using AI more directly to help you browse and search the web.

The Chrome address bar, also known as the Omnibox, allows users to type web addresses or run queries powered by Google Search. This new phrasing adds a third option: interacting with AI directly from the browser interface.

This is separate from the existing AI Mode shortcut in the desktop version of Chrome. Typing @aimode and pressing Tab or Space launches an AI-powered session. Behind the scenes, Google uses its Gemini 2.5 model to generate conversational responses.

While Google has been discussing features like AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search for some time — and rolling them out more broadly, including in India via Search Labs — the explicit change in the Omnibox prompt to “Search AI Mode or type URL” clearly indicates how it wants users to interact with AI Mode .

This is an important user experience change. It tells the user: “When you search here, you can now directly interact with our AI, or you can still type a URL.” It may lead to faster answers for users, but also causes problems for publishers who depend on search traffic.

Apart from this, Google is working on bringing Edge-like search shortcuts to the Chrome address bar. Additionally, Chrome may soon allow users to upload PDFs directly to Google Drive from the built-in PDF viewer.