Google’s AI Mode update lets you open links without leaving the page
Google's AI Mode just got smarter: open links without leaving your chat. Here's why that UX shift matters for search.
Why it matters
Google is iterating on AI Mode's user experience to keep users in-flow during research sessions. The side-by-side browsing feature reduces friction in the AI-assisted search workflow, signaling Google's competitive focus on engagement and retention against alternative AI search tools.
The key facts
10 to knowGoogle AI Mode adds side-by-side link-opening feature
Links now open alongside chat instead of in new tabs
AI Mode launched last year as left-sidebar chatbot in Google Search
Previous AI Mode additions: image generation for outfits/decor, travel visualization, restaurant discovery
Feature allows follow-up questions about opened pages without leaving interface
AI Mode feature: open links side-by-side with chat instead of new tabs
AI Mode launched last year as chatbot-like search feature in Google search
Previous AI Mode additions: outfit/decor image generation, travel visualization, restaurant reservations
Update ships in Chrome browser integration
Published April 16, 2026
Go to the source
The Verge AItheverge.com
Publisher excerpt: Google is upgrading AI Mode in Chrome with a new feature that will allow you to open links to sources alongside your chat. Now, instead of automatically opening a new tab, clicking a source will open the website side by side with AI Mode, allowing you to ask follow-up questions about what's on the…