Google Launches Full “Search Live with Video” as Part of AI Mode Expansion -

Google has rolled out the full video version of Search Live, now available in real time through Google Lens within its AI Mode. Initially launched in audio-only form, the platform now offers video-based conversational search: users simply open Lens in the Google app, tap Live, and ask questions verbally while pointing the camera. AI Mode then responds in real time, referencing the visual feed and pulling in relevant links from across the web.

According to Google executives like Robby Stein and Rajan Patel, Search Live is intended as a mobile-accessible learning tool—ideal for exploring diagrams, textbooks, and real-world objects via back-and-forth voice interaction.

Enhancements in AI Mode: File Uploads, Canvas Planner & In-Browser Assistance

Alongside video, Google is releasing several powerful upgrades to AI Mode:

Image and PDF uploads: Available now on desktop and mobile, these let users submit visual content or documents to AI Mode for analysis. The system will then provide context-aware answers and follow-up suggestions, sourcing additional information from the web. PDF support is expected to fully roll out in the coming weeks, with future plans to support files from Google Drive and more formats.
Canvas Planner: A dynamic side‑panel tool—visible when prompted by AI Mode—allows users to build structured responses, outline plans, or compile study content. It supports iterative adjustments through highlighting and requests for modifications. Customization using uploaded files like syllabi and notes is coming soon to AI Mode Labs users in the U.S.
Integrated Lens in Chrome: AI Mode now supports in-browser visual analysis via an “Ask Google about this page” option in Chrome’s address bar. Users can select elements or images from pages and receive AI-Overview summaries, with a “Dive deeper” button for follow-up interaction.

What’s New at a Glance

Feature	Description
Search Live (video)	Converse with Search in real time via visual context through Google Lens.
File Uploads	Upload images and PDFs to AI Mode for contextual analysis and Q&A with web references.
Canvas Planner	Interactive side panel for organizing plans or study material, editable on the fly.
Screen Search in Chrome	Lens-enabled AI Mode allows visual search directly within your browser window.

These enhancements aim to make AI Mode in Search significantly more intuitive and widely useful, especially for students, researchers, and anyone needing deeper context and planning tools. Initially, many features are limited to users in the U.S. who are part of the AI Mode Labs experiment.

Why It Matters

Google’s latest AI Mode improvements transform how users interact with search—no longer limited to text queries. Visual search with live video means you can speak to what you see and receive contextual, AI-generated responses, making complex topics easier to explore. Combined with file uploads and dynamic planning tools, Search becomes more like a collaborative AI assistant than a static information tool.

These capabilities are still in experimental rollout, though public availability is expanding gradually.

Google AI Mode & Search Live vs. Competitors

Feature	Google AI Mode & Search Live	Microsoft Bing AI (Copilot)	ChatGPT + Plugins / Vision	Apple Visual Lookup & Siri
Live Video Visual Search	Yes — users can talk to Google Lens in real time while pointing the camera; gets AI answers using web references.	Limited — Bing does not currently support live video interaction, mostly text and image uploads.	Limited — ChatGPT Vision supports images but no live video feed yet.	No — Apple Visual Lookup can identify objects but lacks live conversational video search.
File Uploads (Images, PDFs)	Yes — upload PDFs and images for context-aware Q&A, plus planned support for Drive files.	Yes — can upload images and documents in Bing chat for analysis and search.	Yes — ChatGPT Plus users can upload images and PDFs with plugins to process them.	Limited — Siri can identify images but doesn’t handle file uploads for Q&A.
Interactive Planning Tools	Yes — Canvas Planner lets users organize info dynamically during AI conversations.	No direct equivalent; users can save chat threads but no integrated planning canvas.	No direct integrated planner, but users create external docs based on AI outputs.	No — Siri does not include planning or canvas features.
In-Browser Visual AI Assistance	Yes — Chrome integrates Lens with AI Mode for “Ask Google about this page” with image analysis.	Yes — Edge browser supports AI chat with image recognition and page summarization.	Indirect — ChatGPT can be used in browser but lacks direct in-page image AI.	Limited — Safari supports Visual Lookup but no deep AI chat integration.
Multimodal AI Conversations	Yes — combining text, voice, images, video, and file uploads in one conversational experience.	Yes — supports text and images, voice via dictation, but no video input.	Yes — supports text and image inputs, voice via integrations, no live video.	No — Siri is mainly voice and text commands with limited visual capabilities.
Web References & Source Links	AI Mode provides transparent citations and direct links for fact verification.	Bing AI provides source citations prominently.	ChatGPT (OpenAI) generally does not provide real-time web sources unless plugged in.	No — Siri offers brief answers but rarely shows detailed references.

Summary:

Google’s Search Live with Video is a unique innovation — no other mainstream AI search assistant offers real-time, conversational video search via the camera integrated into a web search experience.
The Canvas Planner and file uploads give Google a powerful edge for students and researchers wanting interactive, multimodal study aids and dynamic content organization.
Bing AI remains a strong competitor with deep web integration and image/document upload support, plus browser integration via Edge, but lacks live video search.
ChatGPT with vision and plugins is flexible but more fragmented; it requires extra setup for multimodal inputs and currently does not support live video interaction.
Apple’s Visual Lookup and Siri focus more on object recognition and simple voice queries; they don’t yet match Google or Microsoft’s multimodal AI capabilities.

How Search Live with Video Affects Product Search — Example

Imagine you’re shopping for a new pair of sneakers:

Traditional Search:
You type “best running sneakers 2025” into Google. You get a list of articles, reviews, ads, and shopping results.
Search Live with Video:
Instead, you open Google Lens with AI Mode on your phone, point your camera at your old pair of sneakers, and say, “Find me running shoes similar to these but for trail running.”

The AI analyzes the sneaker’s visual features live via video.
It understands the style, brand, color, and wear pattern.
It then offers tailored recommendations, including direct product links, user reviews, and comparison data—just by interacting conversationally with the search.
You can ask follow-up questions like, “Which ones have better grip?” or “Show me cheaper options in this style.”

Why this matters:

Personalized and immediate visual matching: No need to know exact product names or keywords.
Faster decision-making: Real-time interaction helps narrow choices naturally.
Visual context plus voice input: More intuitive than typing or scrolling.

Impact on SEO

Google’s shift to AI Mode with live video and file uploads will influence SEO in several ways:

Aspect	Impact Description
Keyword Usage	Traditional keywords may become less important. Queries will be more conversational and context-rich, combining voice and visual data. SEO strategies should optimize for natural language and multimodal content.
Visual Content Optimization	Product images and videos will carry more weight. High-quality, well-tagged visuals will help products get matched via live video search. Structured data for images becomes critical.
Content Format Diversification	PDFs, infographics, and other file types uploaded to AI Mode highlight the need for diverse, authoritative content beyond plain text. Rich media SEO will grow.
Search Intent Understanding	AI’s deeper understanding of user intent based on visuals and conversational input means SEO must focus more on user needs and problem-solving, not just keywords.
Authority and Trustworthiness	Since AI answers link to trusted sources, sites with better reputation and transparent info (citations, reviews) may rank higher in AI Mode responses.
New SERP Features	Traditional rankings might shift as AI conversational panels, Canvas planner outputs, and direct product answers appear alongside or instead of classic listings.

Practical SEO Recommendations:

Optimize images and videos with descriptive alt text, captions, and structured data to improve chances of appearing in visual AI search.
Create content that answers conversational queries naturally, including FAQs and detailed product guides.
Provide downloadable resources (PDFs, specs sheets) that AI Mode can reference.
Build authority with transparent sourcing—encourage reviews, citations, and trustworthy backlinks.
Monitor AI Mode and Lens-related SERP features to adapt strategies as the ecosystem evolves.

In short:

Google’s live video search will make product discovery more interactive and visually driven. SEO will need to evolve from keyword-focused text optimization to embracing multimodal content, natural language, and authoritative resources to thrive in this new search landscape.

SEO Strategy for Google AI Mode & Live Video Search

1. Optimize Visual Content for AI-Driven Search

High-Quality Images & Videos: Use clear, well-lit product photos and videos showing multiple angles and usage contexts.
Descriptive Alt Text: Write natural, detailed alt text describing the image content, including brand names, colors, and product features.
Structured Data Markup: Implement Schema.org product markup, especially for images and videos, so Google can better understand and index your visual assets.
Video Transcripts: Provide transcripts or captions for videos to give Google more textual context.

2. Create Conversational, Intent-Focused Content

Natural Language FAQs: Anticipate and answer questions customers might ask conversationally, especially those related to visual cues (“What shoes look like these?”).
How-To and Comparison Guides: Develop guides that explain product uses, comparisons, and visual distinctions to match AI’s deeper intent understanding.
Use Voice Search Keywords: Incorporate long-tail, question-based keywords that match voice queries and conversational AI prompts.

3. Provide Downloadable and Multimedia Resources

PDFs, Spec Sheets, Manuals: Offer product specs and guides in PDF form for AI Mode’s file upload feature to reference and answer detailed questions.
Infographics: Create shareable infographics that visually explain features, specs, or comparisons.
Interactive Content: Consider adding 3D models or AR experiences compatible with Lens to enhance engagement.

4. Build and Highlight Trust & Authority

Encourage Verified Reviews: Positive, detailed reviews help AI Mode identify trustworthy products and provide user opinions.
Cite Authoritative Sources: Link to or get featured in reputable industry sites, blogs, or news for credibility.
Transparent Product Info: Be clear about product specs, warranties, and return policies to reduce user uncertainty.

5. Leverage AI Mode-Specific SERP Features

Monitor AI-Driven Results: Track how your content appears in AI Mode conversational responses and Lens-based search to identify optimization gaps.
Optimize for “People Also Ask” & Rich Snippets: These are more likely to feed AI Mode responses. Use structured Q&A schema.
Engage with Canvas Planner Use Cases: Create content that can be easily chunked into outlines or plans, fitting Canvas-style tools (e.g., step-by-step tutorials).

6. Prepare for Continuous Evolution

Stay Updated: Google’s AI Mode is evolving fast; keep an eye on announcements and beta features.
Experiment with AI Tools: Use Google Lens, AI Mode, and competitor AI tools regularly to understand user behavior and tweak your SEO accordingly.
Cross-Channel Strategy: Combine AI-optimized SEO with strong social media visuals and video content, since multimodal content works better together.

Bonus Tip: Enhance Mobile UX

Since AI Mode and Lens are mobile-first, ensure your site loads fast, images and videos are optimized for mobile, and the design is responsive.

Keyword Research for Google AI Mode & Live Video Search

1. Focus on Conversational & Multimodal Queries

Target natural language questions people might ask verbally or visually, e.g.:
- “What shoes look like these?”
- “How to use for [specific purpose]?”
- “Best trail running sneakers under $100”
Use tools like AnswerThePublic, AlsoAsked, or Google’s People Also Ask to gather question-based keywords.

2. Include Visual & Contextual Keywords

Add descriptive, image-friendly terms related to colors, styles, materials, shapes, etc.
Examples: “red leather hiking boots,” “waterproof smartwatch with round face,” “matte finish phone case.”

3. Use Long-Tail & Voice Search Keywords

Long-tail keywords are more conversational and fit AI Mode’s style, e.g.:
- “Where can I find running shoes similar to Nike Air Max?”
- “What are the benefits of using organic skincare products?”

4. Research File & Document-Related Keywords

Since AI Mode can analyze PDFs and documents, consider keywords for downloadable content:
- “2025 smartphone spec sheet”
- “User manual for [the product]”
- “Product warranty PDF download”

5. Analyze Competitors & AI-Optimized Content

Look at competitors’ product pages and FAQs that rank for visual or AI-related search queries.
Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to find relevant keyword opportunities around AI, live search, and image-based queries.

Technical SEO Checklist for Google AI Mode & Live Video Search

1. Optimize Image & Video SEO

Use descriptive file names (e.g., red-trail-running-shoes.jpg).
Add detailed alt text describing visuals with natural language.
Include structured data (Schema.org) for images and videos (e.g., Product, VideoObject).
Compress images and videos for fast load times, especially on mobile.

2. Enable & Optimize Page Speed

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check speed on mobile and desktop.
Implement lazy loading for images/videos but ensure critical visuals load promptly for AI analysis.
Minimize JavaScript and CSS blocking.

3. Mobile-First Design

Make sure the site is fully responsive and easy to navigate on small screens.
Ensure interactive elements (buttons, forms) are thumb-friendly.
Optimize fonts and colors for readability.

4. Structured Data Implementation

Add Product schema with detailed attributes (brand, color, size, price, availability).
Use FAQ schema for question-answer content that AI Mode can surface.
Implement DownloadAction schema for PDFs and files users can download.

5. Ensure Accessibility

Use proper ARIA labels and semantic HTML for images and interactive elements.
Provide text alternatives for all non-text content.

6. Improve Crawlability & Indexability

Use robots.txt and meta robots tags wisely to allow AI Mode to access essential resources (images, PDFs, JS).
Ensure your XML sitemap includes URLs for product images, videos, and downloadable content.
Fix any broken links or 404 errors to keep the site healthy.

7. Secure & Reliable Hosting

Use HTTPS for all pages, including image and PDF URLs.
Choose hosting with high uptime and low latency to ensure availability.

8. Monitor & Analyze AI Mode Performance

Use Google Search Console to track how your images, videos, and PDFs are indexed.
Set up event tracking for interactions with video and downloadable content.
Monitor traffic changes and SERP features related to AI Mode using tools like Google Analytics and Rank Trackers.