Google updated AI Mode in Chrome — now it doesn't disappear when switching tabs

Google has updated AI Mode in the Chrome browser: the chat interface for search now remains active throughout an entire session, no longer disappearing when switching between links and opening new tabs. Prior to this update, a user who started a conversation with AI Mode would lose the dialog context as soon as they clicked a link from the search results and navigated to an external site. Returning to the chat interface required starting over — this disrupted search logic and frustrated those accustomed to working with multiple tabs simultaneously.

With the new approach, AI Mode "sticks" to the search session. This means you can open a result in a separate tab, explore the page, return — and the chat context will be preserved. Google positions the feature as a way to make AI search a natural part of the entire research process, rather than a separate tool that needs to be accessed manually.

AI Mode in Chrome is an experimental feature that the company has been actively developing since early 2025. Essentially, it's a chat-based search built into the browser, powered by Gemini: the user asks a question in the address bar or sidebar, receives a comprehensive answer with sources, and can refine the query in a conversational mode. The feature is being promoted as an alternative to switching between tabs with conventional search results and ChatGPT.

The update looks like a direct response to user behavior: many people open dozens of tabs in the process of searching for information — so-called tab hopping. Google wants to keep the user within its ecosystem by offering an AI assistant that accompanies the entire journey, rather than being lost at the first click. For Google, this is strategically important: the company is competing with Perplexity, ChatGPT, and other AI search engines that were built from the ground up as chat-first products.

Integrating AI Mode directly into Chrome is an attempt to leverage the browser's dominant position to retain search traffic within Google. It remains unclear how effectively the new behavior works in complex scenarios — for example, with dozens of tabs open simultaneously. However, the direction is clear: Google is rethinking the browser as an environment for AI search, rather than simply a tool for opening pages.