Google has rolled out a new search feature worldwide that allows users to have real-time conversations with artificial intelligence using their smartphone microphone and camera. The move is the latest in Google's ongoing efforts to enhance its search capabilities, following the launch of AI Overviews in 2024.
According to information technology industry sources on Tuesday, Google recently expanded its "Search Live" service to approximately 200 countries. Search Live is a service that lets users search while conversing with AI through the Google app. Users can access it by tapping the "Live" icon after opening the Google app. The feature works by letting users point their smartphone camera at their surroundings and ask AI questions, which the AI then answers by voice.
Google's Search Live was previously available only in English in North America. To expand the feature to multiple languages, Google applied its voice-specialized AI model "Gemini 3.1 Flash Live." Gemini 3.1 Flash Live is a newly unveiled AI model with built-in multilingual processing capabilities, enabling use in languages other than English. Its tone recognition function has also been improved to reduce unnatural conversations.
Google explained that Search Live is useful in situations where it is difficult to type search terms directly on a smartphone, or when immediate answers are needed, such as when assembling furniture. For example, if a user turns on the camera, shows a specific product, and verbally asks "How much does this cost online?" the AI provides a voice response within seconds. The Live Search screen also displays the source websites behind the answers. Users can also ask questions and receive answers using voice only, without the camera.
What distinguishes Search Live from existing voice and image search is that the AI automatically provides answers after a user asks a question without requiring any additional button presses. While conventional search was one-directional communication where a search engine responded to a user's query, Search Live is a truly conversational search experience.
The Search Live feature is an extension of Google's steady efforts to enhance its search capabilities. Google previously launched AI Overviews, a search result summarization service, in 2024. AI Overviews is a service that provides AI-generated summary answers at the top of search results when users search for specific keywords or questions. Google introduced the feature in response to generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini opening up the conversational search market. Google believes that as users search for a wider range of topics and search queries grow longer, this will help boost advertising revenue and improve financial performance.