Google is testing a flag in Chrome Canary that sends searches straight to AI Mode, bypassing the usual results page. The experimental switch, called “Fulfill Searchbox Queries in AI Mode,” launches a chatbot‑style interface by default. Windows Report confirmed the feature works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS, and looks ready for release for early adopters and developers in its.

Under normal Chrome, a query opens the All page, displaying an AI Overview and links to sites; users must tab to AI Mode for a chat‑like experience. With the flag, the AI view appears immediately, resembling a conversation. The move follows Google’s 2026 I/O release of an Intelligent Search Box that accepts videos, images, and tabs as inputs for searching.

Google has not announced a public rollout, and a comment in the flag’s code states it is only for exploration with no current plans to push it live. The tweak signals a broader shift toward AI‑centric search, prompting competitors like DuckDuckGo to double down on non‑AI offerings as users seek alternatives to find privacy and control in search results today.