Google updated AI Mode: sources now open next to the chat

Google has added a new feature to AI Mode: clicking a source link no longer opens a separate tab—the website appears next to the chat in split-screen mode. AI Mode is a chat-based search tool built into Google Search that lives in a separate panel on the left. Launched in 2025, Google has since regularly expanded its capabilities: generating images of clothing and decor from descriptions, visualizing travel plans, searching and booking restaurant tables.

The sidebar update solves a specific problem: previously, when a user clicked a source within the conversation, the browser would take them to a new tab, and the dialogue context would be lost. Now the page loads right beside the chat—you can read the material and immediately ask AI Mode what something means or how it relates to other data in the chat. The feature is available in Chrome and continues Google's push to transform AI Mode from a simple chatbot into a full-fledged research tool directly within the browser.

For users, this means fewer tab switches and a more seamless workflow when searching with source verification. For Google, it's another step toward keeping user attention within its own ecosystem, not letting users venture to third-party resources.