Japan: Google Search Live Expands Globally with AI Upgrades

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📝 Key Points of This Article

• Google officially announced the global expansion of “Search Live,” a new feature for its conversational AI search “AI Mode.”
• The feature is being rolled out to all regions where the “AI Mode” search service is available.
• The underlying AI model has also been upgraded to “Gemini 3.1 Flash Live,” a next-generation multilingual AI model.

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Google officially announced the expansion of “Search Live,” a new feature for its conversational AI search “AI Mode.” This feature was originally announced on July 29, 2025, and launched in the United States on September 24, 2025.

“Search Live” is now being expanded to all regions where the “AI Mode” search service is available. This means that Japan is also included in this rollout.

Furthermore, while the underlying AI model for “Search Live” was initially “Gemini 2.5 Flash Native Audio,” it has been upgraded to the next-generation multilingual AI model “Gemini 3.1 Flash Live” in conjunction with this expansion.

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As we have previously reported on this site, “Search Live” began rolling out in Japan and for Japanese language environments around mid-March 2026. Since it has been widely available as of late March 2026, you should now be able to use “Search Live” within the Google app on both Android and iOS.

“Search Live” is essentially the “AI Mode” version of “Gemini Live.” While it functions similarly to the “Gemini Live” conversational AI service, the difference is that while “Gemini Live” is launched from the Gemini app, “Search Live” can be accessed by tapping the “Search Live” icon on the home screen of the Google app for Android and iOS.

Once “Search Live” is enabled, the music search icon (the musical note “♪”) on the home screen of the Google app will be replaced by the “Search Live” icon, which features the “Gemini Live” design.

Just like “Gemini Live,” “Search Live” allows you to have conversations with AI and supports video sharing using your smartphone’s camera. This means you can ask “Search Live” questions about the objects or scenes you are capturing with your camera.

Additionally, even if you minimize the Google app on Android or iOS, “Search Live” can continue the conversation, just like “Gemini Live.”

Google App Links

Source: Google