I attended a fascinating talk yesterday at the Simply Business headquarters in London, where Jonathon Heard, the Industry Head, Insurance at Google, shared some groundbreaking insights. He revealed that Google Search is gearing up to direct complex queries straight to AI Mode, effectively bypassing the traditional search process.
Heard also hinted at future enhancements in Google Search Console, aiming to provide separate reports for AI Mode and AI Overviews.
Bypassing Google Search. According to Heard, with the advent of Gemini 3, complex queries will be automatically channeled through AI mode, a feature currently being tested in the US.
One curious attendee asked about the implications of these changes. Heard confirmed that any query entered in the standard Google search could indeed be redirected to AI Mode. This revelation sparked a lively discussion, as the audience realized the significant shift this represents.
Although Google previously hinted that AI Mode might become the default search experience, they later retracted those statements. Robby Stein from Google downplayed the speculation, emphasizing the company’s focus on easy access to AI Mode for interested users.
AI Mode & AI Overview Search Console data. During the panel discussion, Simon Schnieders, Founder of Blue Array, inquired about the potential for separate AI Mode and AI Overview data within Search Console. Currently, these data points are lumped together, making it challenging to assess their individual performance.
Heard responded that Google is actively exploring this possibility, acknowledging the need for new data structures as search interfaces evolve. Schnieders welcomed this openness, noting it was the first time a Google representative had mentioned it.
Heard further elaborated, highlighting the rapid pace of change and the necessity to adapt reporting structures to keep up. He mentioned that although nothing is publicly announced yet, the transformation in reporting is a constant conversation within Google.
Here is the video of the event:
Why we care. I’ve reached out to Google to confirm the accuracy of Jonathan Heard’s statements. If Google transitions to an AI-centric approach bypassing traditional search, it will dramatically alter how users discover websites, content, and services.
Additionally, Google’s reticence to discuss AI Mode and Overview data in Search Console since the SGE demo could signal substantial upcoming changes. We will update this story as soon as we receive new information.
Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
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