Google Launches Search Live: Turning Search into Real-Time Conversations

Google has rolled out its new Search Live feature in the U.S., reimagining search as a real-time, interactive conversation. Available in the Google app for iOS and Android, the tool combines voice, vision, and context to deliver instant answers about the world around users.

The update introduces a new “Live” icon beneath the search bar. Once tapped, users can activate their phone’s camera and begin speaking questions directly. The functionality is also integrated into Google Lens, extending its visual search capabilities into a conversational experience.

Search Live allows users to point their camera at objects—whether tangled home-theater cables, an unusual pastry, or a box of tools—and ask, “What’s this?” The AI then identifies the object and provides relevant details, eliminating the need for keyword guessing.

Unlike traditional search, the feature supports back-and-forth conversations. Users can ask follow-up questions, clarify responses, and tap into linked resources—all without typing. Google’s system employs “query fan-out,” a method that generates multiple related searches in parallel. This enables broader, more comprehensive answers than a single-query search could provide.

The tool has wide-ranging uses, from solving technical problems to guiding hobbies, such as explaining tools in a matcha kit. It can even act as a quick tutor in science or other subjects. Acknowledging the risk of AI misinterpretation—especially with poor lighting or ambiguous objects—Google emphasizes that Search Live is an assistant, not a final authority. Each response is backed by links to trusted sources for verification.

While rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, and Apple’s Siri are advancing in multimodal AI, Google’s advantage lies in habit: billions of users already “Google” daily. Connecting this familiarity to a new conversational model could redefine the search experience.

With Search Live, Google signals its vision for the future: search evolving from static questions into a continuous dialogue with the environment. If the system proves reliable, the smartphone may soon become a real-time knowledge lens powered by AI.