The clear difference between Gemini and AI Mode will be an assistant. That’s already the case today, and what LLMs continue to make possible will only widen that gap. However, the similarities today make me wonder whether this is confusing for most users.
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I raised an eyebrow when Google AI Mode last month started allowing subscribers to switch models and Gemini 2.5 Pro. At the same time, Google released “Deep Search” seven months after the Gemini app made “Deep Research” available.
Earlier this week, AI Mode started testing Search Live with video input like Gemini Live, though without screen sharing. The last two features were pre-announced at I/O 2025 in May, but AI Mode adding “Canvas” surprised me a bit.
Canvas is an interactive document that you can edit by highlighting a portion and entering a prompt in the side chat. Gemini introduced this in March with an equal focus on text and coding.
The best answer I got in talking to Google about recent launches is that people expect capabilities like deep research and canvas out of modern LLM-powered offerings. That does make sense, with the other new feature announced for AI Mode being the ability to upload a PDF with your prompt.
In the near future, this duplication of capabilities will continue with Project Mariner bringing agentic capabilities to AI Mode that can help you purchase tickers, while it will be “Agent Mode” for Gemini. Additionally, personal context will let AI Mode tap into your Gmail and other Google apps to factor your preferences when answering prompts.
(As an aside, the rate at which new AI Mode features are shipping is impressive, though Google desperately needs to expand global availability beyond three countries.)
Most people think of Google as a search engine, but it’s ultimately a tool that has to keep up with the times and people’s expectations.
However, I’m concerned about the optics, and can absolutely see why people think AI Mode — and Search to a broader extent — should merge with Gemini to make clear to people what is the AI app they should use from Google. Gemini dropping its distinctive branding and getting a four-color logo sure didn’t help with that.
Gemini does things you wouldn’t want a tool as capable as Google Search to handle. On mobile, people are familiar with the idea of a smart assistant that can be used to control their phone and home devices, access their notes and files, check calendars, make reminders, and more.
I think that separation is important as LLM assistants can do more for you, with AGI being used to help in your daily life being the ultimate distinction.
That is still a few years away, and the best thing the Gemini app can do until then is to release these next-generation assistant features like more immersive phone control and proactive experience. Frontier features like yesterday’s Deep Think are exciting for those on the bleeding edge, but it’s something like the I/O example of Gemini seeing a test or other event on your calendar and helping you get ready that will really drive home the difference.
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