Google Tests Showing Full AI Mode Responses in AI Overviews by Default

Google is testing a change to AI Overviews that shows the full AI-generated response immediately, removing the "Show more" button that previously required users to click to expand the answer. The change also loads the follow-up "Ask anything" prompt box by default, effectively turning the AI Overview into an AI Mode experience directly within standard search results.

What was announced

SEO professional Chris Long observed and documented the change on August 27, 2026, sharing screenshots showing Google Search displaying expanded AI responses for certain queries without requiring user interaction to reveal the full answer.

What changed

Previously, Google Search would display a truncated preview of the AI Overview response. Users had to click a "Show more" button to see the complete AI-generated answer. Under the new behavior being tested, Google displays the full AI response immediately and presents the conversational "Ask anything" input box, mirroring the experience users get in Google's dedicated AI Mode.

This change pushes the traditional organic search results—the ten blue links—significantly further down the page, below the expanded AI response and the follow-up prompt interface.

Details and availability

The behavior is currently in testing and appears to apply only to certain queries. It is not yet a universal change across all search results. Google has not publicly commented on the test as of August 28, 2026.

The expanded AI Overview includes:

• The full AI-generated response text without truncation
• The "Ask anything" conversational prompt box pre-loaded and visible
• Organic search results positioned below the AI interface

This represents a continuation of Google's strategy to integrate AI Mode—the company's conversational search experience—into standard search results. Google launched AI Mode as a separate interface in 2025 and has been gradually bringing AI Mode features into traditional search.

Context

Google has been progressively expanding the role of AI-generated responses in search results throughout 2025 and 2026. The company introduced AI Overviews in May 2024 as part of its AI Search Generative Experience, and has since expanded availability and functionality.

AI Mode, launched as a dedicated conversational search interface, allows users to ask follow-up questions and receive multi-turn AI responses. The current test suggests Google is exploring ways to bring the AI Mode experience directly into standard search results without requiring users to switch interfaces.

For publishers and website owners, this change reduces the visibility of organic search results on pages where the expanded AI Overview appears. When the full AI response and conversational prompt are displayed above the fold, users may be less likely to scroll to see traditional search results, potentially affecting click-through rates to publisher websites.

What has not been confirmed

Google has not confirmed whether this test will expand to all queries or remain limited to specific topics. The company has not indicated whether this is a permanent change in development or a temporary experiment. It is also unclear whether Google plans to provide publishers with data on how this change affects traffic to their sites.

The test does not appear to affect all users or all queries equally. The specific criteria Google is using to select which queries receive the expanded AI Overview format have not been disclosed.

Sources

• Chris Long, SEO professional, public post on X (August 27, 2026)
• Google Search blog and documentation on AI Overviews and AI Mode