August 17, 2026, 5:31 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Google is shaking up one of the most well-known elements of the internet. In a current test, the company is replacing the classic “Google Search” button with several AI functions, indicating where the search engine’s future might be headed.
AI Moves to the Google Homepage
For many users, the Google homepage has been one of the most familiar sights on the web for decades. This makes a new test discovered by the specialist site “Search Engine Watch” all the more remarkable. For some desktop users, the familiar “Google Search” button disappears, making way for three new AI-related buttons.
In its place, the options “Create images,” “Ask about files,” and “Brainstorm” appear. These allow users to directly access various AI tools without first initiating a traditional search query. The long-standing “I’m Feeling Lucky” button, however, remains visible.
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Images, Documents, and AI Chats at the Push of a Button
Behind “Create images” is Google’s AI image generator “Nano Banana.” After a click, the system suggests suitable image descriptions and automatically generates images from them. However, this function requires signing in with a Google account.
The other two offerings can be used without logging in. With “Ask about files,” documents can be uploaded, and the AI will then answer questions about them. “Brainstorm” opens a general AI chat for ideas, questions, and creative tasks. The new interface clearly shows that Google wants to make its generative AI services much more visible than before.
Classic Search Remains for Now
Despite the noticeable change, the actual Google search is to remain untouched. Robby Stein, Vice President of Google Search, emphasizes that users can continue to enter search terms as usual and start their query by pressing the Enter key. The new buttons are merely additional entry points to AI offerings.
It is also noteworthy that the test version mainly appears for users who are not logged into their Google account. After logging in, the classic homepage with the familiar search button is displayed again. Google so far only speaks of a small experiment and does not mention a date for a possible broader rollout. Nevertheless, the test fits into a larger strategy: The company is increasingly integrating AI into its products. With such a homepage, Google would no longer just act as a search engine but as a central platform for various AI services.