Google AI Mode Major Update: Now Can Connect and Interact with Third-Party Apps

AI Mode is Google's AI-driven search mode launched in late 2024, using the Gemini model to provide users with a more conversational and comprehensive search experience. Unlike traditional search result lists, AI Mode can understand users' natural language queries, synthesize information from multiple sources, and present answers in an easy-to-understand conversational format. This update's 'app connection' feature is the most important feature expansion since AI Mode's launch, elevating AI search capabilities from 'passive answering' to 'active execution.' Users no longer need to leave the Google search page to complete operations in different apps — everything can be seamlessly done within the AI conversation.

Specifically, how the new feature works is very intuitive. When a user makes a request requiring action in AI Mode, such as 'Help me order nearby Thai food from DoorDash,' AI Mode first understands the user's intent, then calls the connected DoorDash app to execute the operation. Users can see restaurant recommendations, menu options, and pricing information in the AI conversation interface, and directly confirm their order. The entire process doesn't require switching to the DoorDash app or website — all interactions are completed within Google Search's AI Mode. Similarly, if a user says 'Help me book an Italian restaurant for 2 at 7 PM tonight,' AI Mode will call OpenTable to search for nearby Italian restaurants, check available times, and complete the reservation.

The technical implementation behind this feature is quite complex. Google needs to establish a standardized app interface protocol, allowing third-party apps to safely expose their core functions for AI Mode to call. Meanwhile, user authorization and privacy protection are also key considerations — users need to explicitly authorize each app connection and can revoke authorization at any time. Google states that all third-party app interactions through AI Mode follow strict security standards, and users' payment information, personal data, and other sensitive information are not directly exposed to the AI model but are transmitted between users and apps through encrypted secure channels. This design ensures a balance between AI convenience and user privacy security.

From an industry impact perspective, Google AI Mode's app connection feature could fundamentally change search engine business models. Traditionally, search engines have primarily monetized through advertising — users search for information, and search engines display relevant ads. But when search engines can directly help users execute actions, new monetization models emerge. For example, Google could charge a commission on each DoorDash order completed through AI Mode, or charge referral fees for restaurant reservations. This 'transaction-based' revenue model could be more efficient and sustainable than traditional advertising. Meanwhile, this also means third-party apps need to rethink their marketing strategies — future SEO may not only be about optimizing search result rankings but also optimizing the probability of apps being recommended and called in AI conversations.

It's worth noting that Google is not the only tech giant pushing in the 'Agentic AI' direction. OpenAI's ChatGPT has already launched similar 'plugin' and 'Actions' features, allowing AI to interact with third-party services. Anthropic's Claude is also actively developing tool-use capabilities. Microsoft's Copilot is deeply integrated across the entire Microsoft 365 product line. But Google's unique advantage lies in its search engine's massive traffic and the vast Android ecosystem. If AI Mode's app connection feature succeeds, it could become the primary entry point for users to interact with the digital world — a huge challenge for other tech companies. It's foreseeable that in the next 12 months, 'Agentic AI' will become one of the most important competitive tracks in the tech industry.