Google Tests AI Mode in Search, Possibly Replacing ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ Button

Google has started testing its new AI Mode chatbot within Google Search, according to multiple user reports posted on social media platforms like X and Threads. Users have noticed variations in the placement and appearance of the AI Mode button. In some cases, the AI Mode icon appears within the search bar itself, next to the “search by image” option. In other cases, the iconic “I’m Feeling Lucky” button has been replaced entirely by the AI Mode button.

There are also visual differences in the AI Mode button across tests. Some users reported seeing an animated rainbow border appear when hovering over the AI button, while others saw this rainbow design as the default state, making it visually distinct from Google’s existing features.

Google initially announced on May 1st that a limited group of users in the U.S. would soon see an option to activate AI Mode in Search. The recent screenshots provide clearer insight into how and where Google might ultimately integrate this AI feature if it gets widely released. Currently, according to Google’s spokesperson Ashley Thompson in a statement for The Verge, AI Mode is accessible only through the Google Labs testing environment.

Thompson emphasized: “We regularly experiment with different approaches to help users access our features more efficiently. This test is just one of several currently underway.”

While Google hasn’t confirmed whether the AI Mode button will permanently replace the classic “I’m Feeling Lucky” option, even considering this change could concern dedicated users of the feature. The “I’m Feeling Lucky” button has long been a distinctive element of Google’s homepage, instantly redirecting users to the top-ranked search result. Google’s new direction might indicate that the company sees AI-driven search responses as more valuable or user-friendly compared to traditional search result navigation.