Google is now rolling out Search Live, the talk and listen version, not the video version, but the conversational talk and listen version, within the Google Search app. Google says Search Live lets you have a back-and-forth voice conversation with Search and explore links from across the web.
Again, this is the voice input version, missing the camera input aspect that Google demonstrated at Google I/O weeks ago.
What it looks like. Here is a video of it in action:
How it works. First, you need to opt-in to the AI Mode experiment in Labs to try Search Live in the Google app on Android and iOS.
Then open the Google app, tap the new “Live” icon and verbally ask your question. You’ll hear an AI-generated audio response and you can follow up with another question. Google will also show links right on your screen so you can dig deeper to those links, if you are watching the screen.
Plus, if you want to look at the text version, there is a “transcript” link to see the conversation later. Tap the “transcript” button to view the text response and continue to ask questions by typing. If you want to revisit a Search Live response, pick up where you left off by heading to your AI Mode history.
Camera mode coming. Google said in the coming months, Google will upgrade this feature to include the camera mode Google demo’ed at I/O originally. “In the coming months, we look forward to bringing even more Live capabilities to AI Mode, including using your camera when you talk back-and-forth so you can show Search what you’re seeing in real time,” Google wrote.
I should add that the Gemini app does have the camera version of live mode in some regions.
Why we care. This new mode of searching may be super neat for searchers but it may also lead to even fewer clicks. If searchers are not looking at the screen, it may result in even fewer clicks.
I guess time will tell but for now, keep experimenting with how your sites show up in these new experiences.