Like the Pixel Launcher, Google is adding an AI Mode shortcut to desktop Chrome’s New Tab Page.
“AI Mode” appears to the right of the voice input microphone and Google Lens. It looks just like the google.com homepage. This pill shaped button with a gray background has a sparkle magnifying glass icon in black next to the colorful shortcuts. On ChromeOS, we’re seeing a four-color animation around the button on initial page load.
This opens google.com/aimode to enter a prompt, as well as switch models (Gemini 2.5 Pro) and use Deep Search if you’re an AI Pro/Ultra subscriber.
I primarily access AI Mode from that homepage so this is a pretty useful shortcut. I rarely switch an existing query to AI Mode from the Search results page.
We’re seeing this AI Mode shortcut in the New Tab Page with Chrome 138 (for Mac and Chromebooks) in the US. Be sure the browser is on the latest version. It joins Gemini in Chrome for two Google AI features in the browser.
More on AI Mode:
- Google AI Mode has 100 million monthly active users
- Google AI Mode adds 2.5 Pro & Deep Search for subscribers, agentic AI calling for all
- Circle to Search adding AI Mode and gaming help on Android
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