Google has launched its groundbreaking AI Mode in Search across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, making the three countries the first in Africa to test the company’s next-generation AI-powered search experience.
Google AI Mode Launches in Africa
Starting today, users in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa will begin to see AI Mode appear as a tab on the Google Search results page and within the Google app on Android and iOS devices.
This marks a new era for Google Search in Africa, introducing advanced reasoning, multimodal inputs, and more intuitive topic exploration.
Powered by Gemini 2.5 for Smarter Search
AI Mode is powered by a custom version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 model, designed to make search more interactive and context-driven. Unlike traditional search, AI Mode helps users:
- Break down complex, multi-part queries into digestible answers.
- Get context-rich responses instead of running multiple searches.
- Access prominent links to relevant web sources for deeper discovery.
Advanced Features of Google AI Mode
According to Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa, AI Mode is particularly useful for longer and more detailed queries. Key features include:
- Query Fan-Out Technique: AI Mode breaks down questions into subtopics and simultaneously searches multiple queries, ensuring hyper-relevant content is surfaced.
- Multimodal Interaction: Users can ask questions not only by typing but also through voice and images. By tapping the microphone icon or uploading a photo, people can interact naturally with search.
- Enhanced Web Discovery: Google emphasises that AI Mode continues to support the open web, with web links prominently displayed in AI-powered results.
Boosting Content Discovery and Web Engagement
Google highlights that early data from AI Overviews shows AI-powered results lead users to:
- Visit a greater diversity of websites.
- Spend more time engaging with web content.
Importantly, if AI Mode’s confidence in generating an answer is low, it will default to traditional web results, ensuring users always get reliable information.
Google’s Commitment to Africa’s Digital Future
Okosi affirmed Google’s dedication to enhancing the digital experience in Africa, saying:
“We are excited to bring AI Mode to users in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. With its advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities, AI Mode transforms how people explore the web.”
This rollout underscores Google’s broader mission to expand AI-powered tools in Africa, empowering users with smarter, faster, and more intuitive access to information.
Key Takeaways
- Google AI Mode is now live in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
- Powered by Gemini 2.5 for advanced reasoning and multimodal search.
- Features include voice, image, and text input, plus prominent web links.
- Strengthens content discovery and supports the open web.
