AI Mode hits Chrome address bars in the UK following last month’s Gemini expansion

Last month, Google rolled out its Gemini integration in Chrome for users in the UK after a long delay. Now, the company is expanding its AI-powered search feature, dubbed AI Mode, to the country too.

Users in the region can now directly access AI Mode from the address bar in the browser. So there’s no need to head over to the Google Search page before entering a query to get the AI response. The feature adds a small plus icon inside the address bar, letting you attach extra context to your queries without breaking your flow.

Google announced the release with a post on X, telling users to “search in one seamless flow” and tap the new plus menu to add context like images or open tabs before asking whatever is on their mind.

Search in one seamless flow with AI Mode in @googlechrome—now live in the UK!

Tap the new plus (+) menu in the address bar or on the New Tab page to add context to your search, like images or open tabs, and ask whatever’s on your mind. You’ll get a helpful response in AI Mode,… pic.twitter.com/18rTAGmr6g

— Google UK (@GoogleUK) August 25, 2026

This way, if you are on a certain page or looking at an image, you can simply ask a question in the search bar, and the browser will analyze your request and provide an omnibox answer by retrieving the necessary information from different resources.

AI Mode’s rollout in Chrome for UK users comes just days after Google announced Gemini’s expansion to Chrome users on Android in the US.

In case you’re wondering why the AI Mode is only hitting Chrome users in the UK now, it’s because Google is still working on navigating the EU’s strict GDPR and AI Act regulations. Rather than risking massive fines or enforcement actions, Google opted to stagger its launch timeline while adapting its AI models to meet these stringent privacy and transparency standards.

With Chrome’s new boss focused on AI in the browser, we’d expect to see a lot more AI-powered features rolling out in the coming months.

The feature has been enabled through a server-side update. Therefore, most users should be able to see the new AI Mode option without having to update the application. Still, with the Chrome v152 update hitting the stable channel and bringing a ton of security fixes, we’d recommend updating to the latest version soon.

For more details on how AI mode works, check out the official help page.

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