Google is making its biggest change to the search bar in years

Google announced sweeping AI-driven changes to its search engine and Gemini assistant on Tuesday, marking its most significant overhaul in years. The updates introduce a revamped search bar that expands to handle longer, conversational queries and integrates the Gemini 3.5 Flash model, moving further from traditional blue-link search results. Users can now create autonomous agents to monitor specific topics, such as tracking sneaker collabs from favorite athletes or apartment listings, by inputting commands like 'Keep me updated when any of my favorite athletes announce sneaker collabs.' The system will also generate custom visuals, like fitness trackers combining location, weather, and connected apps. A new mode called Spark within Gemini allows background task automation, such as summarizing email inboxes, compiling notes from Google Docs, and monitoring credit card statements for updates. Spark will extend to the Gemini app on Macs, enabling file analysis, and sync with Android devices via Android Halo, where agents remain active even when the phone is locked. Google plans to expand third-party app support for Spark in the future. The updates reflect Google’s strategy to differentiate Gemini from its main search engine while addressing consumer skepticism about AI reliability. Tulsee Doshi, senior director of product management at Google DeepMind, noted that current models lack trustworthiness, creating an 'uncanny valley' where users hesitate to rely on AI fully. Despite past struggles with consumer adoption of AI agents for tasks like shopping or email management, Google aims to advance toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) with these improvements. The changes come amid competition with AI models like OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s, which have redefined search and browsing tasks. Google’s autonomous features, such as OpenClaw’s ability to run programs independently, appear to inspire its latest push. The company emphasizes practical applications, like tracking apparel releases or managing finances, to demonstrate the real-world utility of its AI advancements.