Google Tests Removing AI Mode Button From Search Bar
Google is testing the removal of the AI Mode button from its search bar for a small subset of users. The test was spotted by Len Raleigh, who noted on X that AI Mode had disappeared in incognito mode on Chrome, while remaining available on his other machines and sessions.
Barry Schwartz said he could not replicate the change himself, but that it is unsurprising Google would run such a test to compare behaviour against the wider population that still sees the button. Google introduced the AI Mode button in May 2025.
For brands and agencies tracking AI citations, the test is a reminder that access to AI Mode is not uniform. If the entry point is hidden for some searchers, the share of queries reaching AI answers can shift between sessions, which complicates any measurement of how often a brand is cited.
Reported by Search Engine Roundtable ↗
Topics: AI Mode, Google Search, Measurement