Google Completely Redesigns Search for the First Time in 25 Years — Gemini 3.5 Flash Now Handles Tasks

Google has unveiled the largest update to its search engine in more than a quarter century. At its core is the new Gemini 3.5 Flash model, which transforms Search from an information retrieval tool into a personal AI assistant capable of performing complex real-world tasks.

Gemini 3.5 Flash: From Model to Search

Google has integrated Gemini 3.5 Flash directly into Google Search—meaning search can now not only find information but also independently execute complex multi-step tasks. The model is specifically optimized for managing AI agents and writing code, enabling it to rapidly process results and make decisions without human intervention.

In practice, this looks like this: agents now see the screen as a human does—clicking links, analyzing text, comparing data across multiple sources, and performing operations. This is no longer just search that returns ten links. It's task delegation: the user describes what they need, and Search does it.

What the New Search Can Do

• Flight search with automatic filtering by price, departure time, number of layovers, and airline ratings
• Comparing prices for specific products across multiple stores and highlighting the most advantageous offer
• Automatic form filling and information collection from multiple websites for analytics
• Analyzing product reviews, highlighting key drawbacks, advantages, and trends in user opinions
• Coordinating complex bookings considering schedules, availability, and costs

The first test of the feature is underway in the United States with a limited number of users. Before a full rollout, Google is testing the reliability and security of agents—it's especially important that they work correctly with payment systems and sensitive data.

What Changes in the Search Ecosystem

This update overturns assumptions about what it means to be a search engine in the age of AI. Previously, Google competed only with other traditional search engines—Yandex, Bing, DuckDuckGo. Now it competes directly with ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini as standalone AI assistants that promise to help users rather than just return links.

Google chose integration over replacement. For developers and SEO specialists, this presents a new-level challenge: websites must be user-friendly not only for humans but also for AI agents that will 'visit' them on behalf of users.

Google previously discussed only Core Web Vitals and mobile optimization. Now developers must consider whether AI can find the needed information on the page on the first try, without 10 clicks and scrolling.

What This Means in Practice

Google is protecting its search monopoly by embedding the AI revolution directly into Search. Rather than getting lost in the wave of new AI startups and alternative search engines, the company is transforming its most well-known product into a next-generation AI assistant.

For users, this means saving time on routine online tasks. For Google, it means search remains the central point for any online interaction.