Google is redesigning Search as AI internet changes reshape how people ask questions, shop online and use social media, company executives and industry data show.
Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search, told CNN that users now ask longer, more complex questions. He said many queries no longer have one clear answer on the web.
Google announced new AI search tools at its I/O 2026 conference. The updates include longer query support, multimodal input and AI-generated visual answers, according to recent coverage of the event.
Searches using photos or screen selection grew 60% year over year. It also said that AI Mode queries are, on average, three times longer than regular searches.
Semrush data cited by CNN showed conversational queries rising from 5% to 20%. The same data showed searches of 11 words or more increased from 3.27% to 5.37%.
Read: ChatGPT Search Now Available to All, Poses Challenge to Google
AI has also moved into social media. AI-generated influencers such as Aitana Lopez, Lil’ Miquela and Lu do Magalu.
Online shopping is shifting, too. Adobe said traffic to U.S. retail sites from AI services grew 393% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
