MUMBAI: Search is no longer just about finding answers, it’s about getting things done. Google is turning its AI-powered search into a digital assistant capable of completing real-world tasks, rolling out a new AI Mode feature that lets users connect third-party apps and act on requests without leaving the conversational interface.
The update, which is initially rolling out in the US, introduces support for Instacart, Canva and YouTube Music, allowing users to move from asking questions to completing everyday tasks through natural language prompts. Google said additional app integrations will be added over time.
With the new capability, users can link their accounts to supported services and ask AI Mode to perform specific actions. Someone planning a barbecue, for instance, can ask the assistant to prepare a grocery list. Once an Instacart account is connected, AI Mode automatically adds the required items to the user’s shopping cart, with the final purchase completed through the Instacart app or website.
The integration also extends to Canva, enabling users to request presentation layouts, flyer designs or marketing creatives. AI Mode responds by surfacing relevant Canva templates directly from the connected account, streamlining the creative workflow.
Music is also part of the latest rollout. By linking YouTube Music, users can generate playlists for different occasions or activities using conversational prompts, with the finished playlists saved directly to their account.
The feature builds on Google’s broader push to transform AI from an information tool into an action-oriented assistant. Earlier this year, the company introduced similar app integrations within the Gemini app, allowing users to connect services such as Canva, OpenTable, Spark and Instacart to complete tasks without switching between applications.
Google has steadily expanded AI Mode since its launch in early 2025. Recent additions include the ability to check product availability at nearby stores, a side-by-side web exploration feature that lets users compare information while maintaining an ongoing conversation, and Personal Intelligence, which enables AI Mode to access Gmail and Google Photos to deliver more personalised responses.
By bringing third-party app integrations into AI Mode, Google is taking another step towards making conversational search more than a discovery tool. Instead, it is positioning AI Mode as a central hub where users can search, create, shop and organise tasks across multiple services from a single interface.
The latest expansion also intensifies competition in the rapidly evolving AI assistant market, where platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude have already introduced third-party integrations. As the race shifts from answering questions to completing actions, Google’s newest update signals that the future of AI may be measured less by what it knows and more by what it can help users accomplish.