Google’s new AI Mode is a big leap in convenience by transforming search into something akin to a concierge service, but will this mean small business gets shut out?
The tech giant showed off how it’s new AI will change how search works, at their annual developer conference. AI Mode has been launched in the US and it turns Google Search Google Search into an assistant capable of planning, filtering, summarising and even booking on behalf of the user.
A custom version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 model draws from live data across the web as well as proprietary sources like the Knowledge Graph, Shopping Graph and Maps.
And while this creates a great user experience, what does it mean for small business visibility?
Users will be able to ask Search to book tickets, fill out forms, or secure restaurant reservations with support from platforms like Ticketmaster, Resy and StubHub.
In regards to e-commerce, AI Mode will not only suggest products but, in the future, be able to check out on your behalf through Google Pay. Creating an all-inclusive Google experience.
For small businesses, especially those relying on organic search and unpaid discovery, Google’s AI pivot presents an immediate challenge. If customers aren’t doing the Googling themselves anymore, how do you ensure your business is still found?
AI Mode shifts the decision-making power away from the user and places it in the hands of an algorithm that not only interprets a query but also curates results, ranks relevance, and increasingly facilitates transactions — all before a potential customer sees a traditional list of options.
While this marks a significant shift in how visibility works within Google Search, it’s not exactly a new problem.
Google’s core search product already favours those who pay for prominence through ads, shopping feeds, or participation in tightly integrated services like Google Merchant Center.
AI Mode seems to be the next generation of that model. This could mean that appearing in an answer may depend less on what you offer and more on how well your business fits into Google’s structured data ecosystem. If you’re not part of that system, you may not be part of the response.
Even if you are, users may have even less reason to click through to your site if everything is served up to them on Google.
So you’re not playing catch up with this tech it might be time to think about where your business fill fit in with this new AI. Small businesses that lean into local SEO, structured data, and Google’s merchant tools may find new ways to surface in hyper-personalised searches.
Niche brands with strong review profiles or a loyal customer base might also benefit if Google’s AI prioritises trusted, relevant responses over sheer scale.