Google is testing a homepage redesign that removes the iconic “Google Search” button for some signed-out users, replacing it with AI feature shortcuts. The change, confirmed by a Google executive on August 11, 2026, signals the company’s continued push to surface artificial intelligence tools at the entry point to its search engine.
Key Points
- Google confirmed it is testing a new homepage layout for a small number of signed-out desktop users, though the company has not indicated that the design will become a permanent change.
- The classic “Google Search” button is replaced by three AI shortcuts: Create images, Ask about files, and Brainstorm.
- An “AI Mode” button now appears inside the search bar itself.
- Core search functionality remains unchanged; pressing Enter still returns traditional results.
- The test was first spotted on August 10, 2026, across Chrome, Edge, and Comet browsers.
What Changed on the Homepage
The most visible change is the disappearance of the “Google Search” button that has sat below the search bar since the company’s earliest days. In its place, some users now see three pill-shaped shortcuts: Create images, Ask about files, and Brainstorm. The legacy “I’m Feeling Lucky” button remains to the right of the new shortcuts.
Inside the search bar, an “AI Mode” button has appeared next to the microphone and camera icons. This gives users a more direct way to access Google’s conversational search interface without first typing a traditional search query.
The new layout was first reported by Search Engine Watch on August 10, 2026, after the publication spotted it while using Google Search in Chrome without a signed-in account. The same layout appeared in Microsoft Edge and Perplexity’s Comet browser, suggesting the test is server-side rather than browser-specific.
What Each Shortcut Does
| Shortcut | Function | Account Required |
|---|---|---|
| Create images | Generates images using Google’s Nano Banana image generation model, according to the current test description | Unknown |
| Ask about files | Allows file uploads for AI-powered question answering | No |
| Brainstorm | Starts a conversational AI exchange on any topic | No |
| AI Mode | Activates Google’s conversational search interface | No |
According to testing by Search Engine Watch, both “Ask about files” and “Brainstorm” functioned without requiring a Google Account. The “Create images” feature presents users with suggested image types to generate, though it was not confirmed whether this works without signing in.
Google Confirms the Test
On August 11, 2026, Robby Stein, Vice President of Product at Google Search, confirmed the test in a post on X. “This is a small test on desktop to help people find new things they can do with Search,” Stein wrote. “No impact to how the core search box works — just add your question and hit enter as usual (which is how most people search anyway!)”
The confirmation came after multiple publications reported the new layout, with varying degrees of user visibility. Not all users see the change, regardless of browser, VPN location, or sign-in status, indicating a limited A/B test rather than a full rollout.
Context: Google’s AI-First Search Strategy
This homepage test is the latest in a series of moves that place AI at the center of Google’s search experience. Over the past two years, Google has:
- Launched AI Overviews, which summarize search results at the top of the page
- Introduced AI Mode, a dedicated conversational search interface powered by Gemini models
- Added an AI Mode shortcut button to Chrome mobile’s new tab page
- Expanded AI Mode to 160 countries with support for multiple languages
- Added agentic capabilities that allow AI to perform multi-step tasks
The homepage redesign represents a shift in how Google presents its search features to new or signed-out users. Rather than emphasizing traditional web search alone, the new layout gives greater prominence to AI features for generating content, working with files, and brainstorming.
Why It Matters
The removal of the “Google Search” button from the homepage is notable because the button has been a familiar part of Google’s interface for decades. Replacing it in this test with AI shortcuts signals a stronger emphasis on AI features, although it is too early to say that Google is redefining itself primarily as an AI platform.
For publishers and content creators, this trend raises questions about traffic. Research has found that AI Overviews can be associated with fewer clicks to web sources. If the homepage itself increasingly promotes AI features alongside traditional search, publishers and the broader web ecosystem could face further changes in how users discover and visit websites.
User Impact
Despite the visual changes, core search functionality remains intact. Users can still type a query and press Enter to receive traditional search results. The AI shortcuts are additive, not replacements for the underlying search index.
However, the design choice nudges unsigned users toward AI features before they ever perform a traditional search. This could shape user expectations and behavior, particularly for first-time visitors who may not immediately distinguish between AI-generated responses and traditional indexed search results.
What Remains Unknown
Several questions about the test remain unanswered. Google has not disclosed:
- The geographic scope of the test
- The percentage of users who see the new layout
- Whether the change will expand to signed-in users
- Timeline for a potential wider rollout or decision to end the test
- Whether “Create images” requires a Google Account to function
Google frequently runs A/B tests on its homepage, and most do not become permanent features. However, given the company’s broader AI strategy and Stein’s public confirmation, the test appears to be a deliberate experiment, although its eventual scope and permanence remain unknown.
Competitive Landscape
Google’s homepage redesign comes as competitors intensify their AI search offerings. Perplexity AI, OpenAI’s SearchGPT, and Microsoft’s Copilot in Bing have all positioned themselves as AI-native alternatives to traditional search. By placing AI shortcuts on its homepage, Google appears to be increasing the visibility of its AI features as it competes with AI-focused search products.
The move also follows Google’s announcement of new agentic capabilities in AI Mode, which allow the system to perform complex, multi-step tasks such as planning trips, comparing products, and booking services. These capabilities may benefit from greater user familiarity with AI tools, making homepage promotion one possible way for Google to increase their visibility.
Sources
- Search Engine Watch — Google’s classic Search button is gone in a new AI-first homepage, August 10, 2026
- Android Authority — Google is testing Search without the ‘Google Search’ button, August 11, 2026
- Robby Stein, VP of Product, Google Search — Post on X, August 11, 2026
- The Next Web — Google is testing a homepage without a Search button, August 11, 2026
Last updated: August 11, 2026. This article will be updated if Google provides additional details about the test or its expansion plans.