Google yesterday introduced some new features and capabilities for AI Mode in Search that include- Canvas for planning, Search Live with video, PDF uploads, and more.
New ways to learn and explore with AI Mode in Search 🧠
– Upload photos and soon, PDFs, to ask questions that deepen your understanding
– Create plans and stay organized on projects with Canvas in AI Mode, which will soon be available for U.S. users enrolled in the AI Mode Labs… pic.twitter.com/znt0aQwQgz— Google (@Google) July 29, 2025
New features introduced for AI Mode
Ask questions about images and PDFs
AI Mode in the Google app on Android and iOS can be used to ask questions about images, and now this same capability is launching on desktop browsers. In the coming weeks, support for PDF uploads on desktop will be added so that you can ask detailed questions about those documents. This feature will be available in the US and India, in English, and to users 18+.
It is also revealed that in the months ahead, AI Mode will support additional file types beyond PDFs and images, including files from your Google Drive.
Canvas for planning
With Canvas in AI Mode, you can build plans and organize information over multiple sessions in a dynamic side panel that updates as you go. Soon, the new upload feature will also make it possible to customize your study guide with context from your files.
In the coming weeks, users enrolled in the AI Mode labs experiment in the US will begin to see Canvas on desktop browsers. There will be a “Create Canvas” option when you ask for help creating or planning something.
Search Live
The company will be rolling out Search Live with video input. Search Live is fully integrated with Google Lens. To get started, just open Lens in the Google app, tap the “Live” icon, and ask what’s on your mind while pointing your camera. You can also have a free back-and-forth conversation with Search in AI mode, aided by all the visual context from your live camera feed.
This feature will be rolled out this week on mobile in the US for users enrolled in the AI Mode Labs experiment.
Search while browsing
With Lens in Chrome and AI Mode, you can ask and learn about what’s on your desktop screen- whether that’s a website, a PDF, or anything else you’re viewing in the browser.
For example, if you look at an image of a place and want to know more about it, all you need to do is click “Ask Google about this page” from the address bar and select the image. You will get an AI overview with a snapshot of key information directly in the side panel.
Also, this week, you will be able to follow up with more questions through AI Mode, by selecting “AI Mode” at the top of the Lens search results or by clicking the “Dive Deeper” button at the bottom of the AI Overview.
