Google launches AI Mode Search in Pakistan

Google has rolled out its AI-powered Search experience, AI Mode, in Pakistan, bringing advanced Gemini 2.5-based search to local users.

ISLAMABAD: Google has launched AI Mode in Pakistan, introducing its most advanced artificial intelligence-powered Search experience to local users for the first time. The feature, already available in the United States and other markets earlier this year, is now live in English across Pakistan on the Google App for Android and iOS, as well as on both mobile and desktop web. The move marks a significant expansion of Google’s next-generation search capability into South Asia, where digital adoption has surged rapidly in recent years.

AI Mode is powered by a customized version of Gemini 2.5 and is designed to handle longer, more complex queries compared to traditional search. According to Google, early user data shows that searches in AI Mode are typically two to three times longer, highlighting its utility for exploratory tasks. Instead of requiring multiple searches to gather information, users can now ask a single, detailed question and receive consolidated results enriched with contextual links.

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For example, a user in Pakistan could plan a trip to Hunza by asking for a five-day itinerary that balances sightseeing, adventure, and food. They could then follow up with a query for local dining recommendations. Similarly, parents could ask AI Mode for grade 9 math resources, and then request interactive platforms or YouTube channels for further study. Google says this conversational, follow-up capability is one of the key advantages of AI Mode, enabling users to refine searches naturally.

At the technical level, AI Mode relies on a query fan-out method, breaking complex questions into subtopics and generating multiple underlying searches to provide deeper, more relevant answers. The system integrates AI-powered reasoning with Google’s established knowledge systems, including the Knowledge Graph and shopping data across billions of products, ensuring results remain timely and comprehensive.

The feature is also multimodal, allowing users to search not only through text but also by voice and image. Leveraging Google Lens, Pakistani users can snap a photo of items—such as unfamiliar spices in a Karachi bazaar—and receive explanations, cooking tips, or related product suggestions. This flexibility reflects a broader shift in how people interact with search engines, making them more conversational and context-aware.

Google has emphasized that AI Mode is built to help users discover the best of the web rather than bypass it. When confidence in an AI-generated response is low, the platform reverts to conventional search results, ensuring users can still access credible sources. The company acknowledges that, like other early-stage AI products, AI Mode may not always deliver perfect accuracy, but it is committed to ongoing refinement.

Pakistan represents a strategic market for Google’s expansion of AI Search. The country has a population of more than 240 million, with a rapidly growing base of internet users driven by cheaper smartphones and mobile broadband penetration. According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority data, the country has over 130 million broadband subscribers, making it one of the largest digital markets in the region. Analysts believe that AI-driven products could significantly shape how these users access information, shop online, and learn.

The launch also arrives amid global competition in AI search. Microsoft’s Bing, powered by OpenAI’s GPT models, has been experimenting with conversational search since early 2023, while Chinese firms such as Baidu have developed their own AI search platforms. By embedding AI Mode directly into Search, Google is positioning its product as an evolution of its core service rather than a standalone experiment. This integration could help Google retain its dominant market share, particularly in countries like Pakistan where it faces less direct competition in search but must still adapt to rapidly changing user habits.

For Pakistani content creators, publishers, and businesses, AI Mode offers new opportunities and challenges. On one hand, it could expand discovery by connecting users to highly specific content that might otherwise remain buried in conventional rankings. On the other hand, there is growing debate globally over how AI summaries may affect traffic to publisher websites. Google has said that content visibility remains central to its mission, but the balance between AI-generated answers and traditional search results will be closely watched.

The company has also highlighted the accessibility advantages of AI Mode. By supporting multimodal inputs such as images and voice, the tool caters to diverse user needs, including those less comfortable with typing in English. While AI Mode is currently only available in English in Pakistan, there is strong anticipation for eventual rollout in Urdu and regional languages, which could significantly broaden its adoption.

This launch underscores Google’s strategy to embed artificial intelligence deeply into everyday digital experiences rather than treating it as a separate feature. For Pakistani users, it signals a new phase in search technology that goes beyond retrieving links and moves towards providing contextual, conversational, and real-time answers.

Google’s AI Mode is now live for users in Pakistan in English across mobile and desktop platforms. The rollout is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI-enhanced search in South Asia and further entrench Google’s leadership in the evolving landscape of digital information access.