Google announced new capabilities for its AI Mode in Search, designed to help users pursue real-world activities such as outdoor sports, social events, and personal hobbies. The features aim to simplify planning logistics — from finding beginner tennis clinics to creating curated playlists — all within the search interface.
Searches for 'how to digital detox' have risen since the start of the year.
Interest in offline activities is soaring: queries for 'adult tennis lessons,' 'trail running,' 'hiking,' and 'run club' are higher than ever, according to Google. At the same time, searches for 'how to meet people my age near me' reflect a desire for real-world social connections.
AI Mode can help locate beginner tennis clinics or lessons nearby. For those with packed schedules, the Personal Intelligence feature can link to Google Calendar to suggest cooking classes that fit available time slots.
Shopping for gear is also streamlined: users can search for hiking boots with good ankle support directly in AI Mode, check stock at nearby stores, and ask Google to call stores for product availability.
Event planning becomes more intuitive. AI Mode can find and book tickets for concerts and sports events based on budget and desired number of tickets. For dinner parties — a trending query on Google — the feature helps create a flyer design via connected Canva, visualize the table setup with Nano Banana, and even design a customizable menu to print or share.
Recipe exploration is enhanced: AI Mode now displays recipe links with creator name, ratings, and number of ingredients. It can recommend drink pairings for a meal — such as miso salmon with cheese platter and key lime pie — and curate a playlist saved directly to YouTube Music.
AI Mode also introduces Canvas, a feature that can create a guide for chess strategies or similar planning tasks. The broader aim is to move from passive browsing to active participation in the real world.