Google is testing a new design for its iconic Search homepage, where the long-standing “I’m Feeling Lucky” button is being replaced with a new experimental feature called “AI Mode.” This new button connects users to Google’s AI-powered search tools, introduced earlier in May, signaling the company’s deeper shift toward artificial intelligence integration.
A spokesperson confirmed the trial to The Verge, which first reported the update. The redesigned button is currently available to a limited number of users through Google’s Labs experimental platform. However, the company emphasized that this test may not become a permanent or public change.
The timing of the test is notable, as it comes just a week before Google I/O—its annual developer conference—where the company is expected to unveil major upgrades to its AI search capabilities. These changes reflect Google’s efforts to adapt its core services to the growing influence of AI technologies in everyday digital interactions.
Google’s Search homepage has remained largely unchanged over the years, maintaining its simple and familiar interface. The rare decision to experiment with replacing “I’m Feeling Lucky,” a button that has been part of the Google experience since 1998, suggests a broader strategic shift.
The change may also be in response to rising competition. In recent testimony, an Apple executive revealed that the number of Google searches performed through Safari dropped for the first time last month. The decline was attributed to the increasing use of AI tools like ChatGPT, which are reshaping how users search for and consume information.
While “AI Mode” is still in the testing phase and may never see a full rollout, its appearance on the homepage highlights how seriously Google is taking the evolution of search in the AI era.
