Key facts
- Google VP Rajan Patel denied plans to make AI Mode the default search in Chrome.
- A recent Chrome Canary release included a flag for AI Mode as the default search.
- Google stated the release of the AI Mode default flag was an error.
A recent release of Chrome Canary introduced a flag that appeared to set the browser's address bar search behavior to an AI Mode. However, Google VP Rajan Patel has since denied that the company intends to make AI Mode the default search experience in Chrome. Patel stated that the release of this feature was an error. Google has been increasingly integrating AI-powered features into its search offerings, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, aiming to steer users towards these newer search methods.