Google makes it easier to access AI Mode in Chrome on iOS and Android (techcrunch.com)

Google is rolling out a dedicated AI Mode shortcut in Chrome’s New Tab page on iOS and Android, putting a single-button entry under the search bar so users can ask complex questions and follow-ups directly from mobile Search. The shortcut starts in the U.S. and will expand to roughly 160 additional countries and languages (including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese), joining Google’s broader global AI Mode rollout to hundreds of countries since its March debut. The change is a low-friction way to surface Google’s conversational search tooling inside Chrome, rather than forcing users to visit standalone competitor apps. The move is significant because it tightens the integration of Google’s evolving AI features into core consumer flows, increasing the likelihood users default to Google for multi-turn, agentic queries. AI Mode has already seen continuous enhancements — agentic capabilities that can book event tickets and appointments (building on earlier restaurant-reservation actions), a Canvas side panel for multi-session study plans and organization, and Google Lens integration to ask about on-screen content. By making access easier, Google aims to capture more mobile query volume and accelerate real-world usage and testing of these assistant-style, task-oriented features.