Google Introduces AI Mode in MENA for Complex and Multimodal Search

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Big tech firms are racing to embed more intuitive and powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tools into everyday digital experiences. As part of this push, Google has introduced AI Mode to its search platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, giving users new ways to handle complex queries through text, voice, and images. The feature, launching first in English, will become available to users incrementally over the coming days.

AI Mode marks a major advancement in search technology, combining multimodal input, enhanced reasoning, and follow-up query capabilities to handle complex questions more effectively than traditional methods. Users will find the new feature both as a standalone tab on the Google Search results page and within the Google app for Android and iOS.

“We’re excited to bring AI Mode to more users across MENA, starting with English,” Google said in a statement. “This is our most powerful search experience yet, and we’re looking forward to expanding it to more languages and regions soon.”

Ushering in a new era of AI search

Built on a tailored version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 model, AI Mode enables users to submit deeper, more complex questions that might have previously required several separate searches. Google highlights that the tool is particularly suited for intricate or exploratory queries, such as travel planning, detailed comparisons, and comprehensive how-to topics.

The company noted that early users are already submitting significantly longer search questions, often two to three times the usual length.

For example, a user might ask: “I want to learn more about the new Seven Wonders of the World. What’s the significance of each, and where are they located?” In such cases, AI Mode applies a technique called “query fan-out,” breaking the question into sub-queries and conducting multiple searches simultaneously to deliver more complete and relevant results.

Expanding interaction through multimodal inputs

With AI Mode, users can now interact with search in new ways, not just through text, but also by voice or images. Tapping the microphone icon lets users speak their query or upload a photo directly into the search field.

This expanded functionality is designed to make the search experience more natural and accessible, regardless of how someone prefers to engage with their device.

“The future of search is multimodal,” Google said. “AI Mode is designed to understand input from different formats and provide rich, meaningful responses.”

Emphasising quality and trustworthy content

As it integrates AI further into its search infrastructure, Google reiterates its dedication to delivering high-quality, reliable information. The AI Mode system builds on Google’s established ranking algorithms and is engineered to draw from a wide array of credible sources.

This commitment was previously demonstrated in May with the introduction of AI Overviews, another AI tool that distills complex information within the search interface. Google reports that AI Overviews have encouraged users to engage with a broader range of websites, often leading to longer and more valuable site visits.

AI Mode also responds dynamically depending on how confident it is in the generated answers. If the system lacks sufficient confidence in the AI response, it defaults back to standard web results. “We aim to show an AI-powered response as much as possible, but in cases where confidence is low, we prioritise traditional results,” the company stated.

While acknowledging that AI Mode is still in its early phases, Google stressed that refinement is ongoing. “We won’t always get it right,” the company admitted. “But we are committed to continuous improvement and to helping users get the most out of the web.”