Why is Google’s AI Mode tab is always on the left

Now that AI Mode is fully live in the U.S. and Google is even testing ads within AI Mode, I noticed that the AI Mode tab under the Google Search bar is consistently on the left side. It even comes before the “All” tab that serves the primary search results.

Generally, Google will dynamically show search modes and tabs under the search bar based on the query. So if Google thinks you will want to see the video tab, Google may show that closer to the “All” tab. But with AI Mode, that tab is shown before the “All” tab and always on the left, consistently, for all queries.

What it looks like. Here are a few screenshots showing how the AI Mode tab is always on the left side, while the other Search mode tabs are different based on the query being slightly different:

Google explains. While at I/O, I asked several Google executives and communication people but no one really knew in the moment. Eventually, I received an email from Google comms who sent me the following statement:

“We’ve heard from our users that they want a predictable place to access AI-powered responses, which is why the tab is in a consistent location on the page. Other modes in Search are ranked dynamically and change positions depending on the query.”

Why we care. I assumed that since AI Mode was coined the “future of Search” during the Google I/O keynote by Google’s head of Search, Liz Reid, that AI Mode was placed before the “All” tab intentionally. It was a sign that Google felt AI Mode should come before the primary results. But Google serves the “All” tab by default and does not serve “AI Mode” by default for queries. Instead, Google just places the AI Mode tab before the All tab.

Google wants to make sure people can easily find it and places it all the way to the right.

I still think this is a symbolic placement where Google is making a statement that AI Mode is the future of Search. Again, Google did not tell me that, but hey – that is what I think.