Google has launched a new voice-activated feature, Search Live, for its Google app on iOS and Android, giving users in the United States a more natural, conversational way to search the web.

The rollout is part of the company’s AI Mode initiative, currently being trialled in Google Labs.

Search Live allows users to speak directly to Google Search, pose follow-up questions, and receive responses — all without needing to type.

The feature is aimed at people searching while multitasking or on the move, offering a hands-free experience similar to Google’s existing Gemini Live tool.

By tapping the newly introduced Live icon in the app, users can initiate voice conversations with the search engine. The assistant responds with spoken answers and links to relevant webpages.

Users can continue chatting with the AI even while switching between apps, making multitasking smoother.

A Transcript feature enables mid-conversation switching between voice and text, while a searchable AI Mode history allows users to return to previous queries and resume where they left off.

Although innovative, Search Live’s similarity to Gemini Live has raised questions about Google’s strategy.

Both services offer overlapping functionalities, including camera-based input integration — a feature Google says is coming to Search Live in future updates, despite already being present in Gemini Live.

Google has stated that Search Live runs on a customised version of its Gemini AI model, with enhanced voice interaction capabilities.

However, the introduction of parallel apps with nearly identical tools has led to confusion among users and industry observers.

The new feature is only available in the US at present, with no announcements yet regarding an international rollout.