Google's ongoing test to merge its AI Overviews with AI Mode could be a tipping point for how we interact with search engines. By blending quick-answer AI summaries with a conversational chat interface, the company aims to create a more fluid experience for users. For entrepreneurs like myself, particularly European and female startup founders, these advancements represent more than just convenience. They showcase how emerging tech reshapes decision-making, productivity, and business growth.
Let’s explore what this test involves, why it matters, how it stacks up against competitors, and what key lessons entrepreneurs can take from it.
What’s Happening in Google Search?
Google is experimenting with a system that combines two AI-driven tools: AI Overviews and AI Mode. Previously, these features worked independently. AI Overviews appeared at the top of search results as concise summaries of key information. AI Mode, on the other hand, acted as a separate tab where users could interact with Google's Gemini AI in a conversational style, similar to how OpenAI’s ChatGPT handles queries.
Now, users can move seamlessly from scanning AI Overviews to asking follow-up questions without switching environments. This test, currently available globally on mobile, simplifies the process of diving deeper into a topic. No extra navigation, no pre-planning, just ask and refine repeatedly as you would in an actual conversation.
Key numbers to keep an eye on:
- AI Overviews are used by 2 billion users per month, according to Google.
- Gemini AI, backing the conversational element, saw its global user base surge to 650 million monthly users as of November 2025.
Why Does This Matter for Entrepreneurs?
For founders juggling a dozen tasks, time is one of the most precious resources. Information gathering often feels inefficient, especially when it takes multiple queries or manual sifting through resources. Here's how Google's test can directly benefit entrepreneurs:
- Faster Research: Whether you're verifying a market statistic or pulling a summary for an investor pitch, this integration could trim research time significantly.
- More Depth with Less Effort: You can follow up on initial search results without restarting a query, helping you explore complex topics in one workflow.
- Better Decisions: Dealing with business questions, from legal issues to competitive analysis, often requires multiple information sources. The conversational element makes this less overwhelming.
For example, running a startup like Fe/male Switch (F/MS), which promotes women in STEM, means continuously navigating tech research, funding applications, and marketing trends. An enhanced version of AI Mode could automate quick data extractions and contextual discussions, cutting hours off research-intensive tasks.
Comparing Google with Competitors
Google isn’t the only player in this space. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing Chat are direct rivals. OpenAI has adapted its tools for integration into business processes, while Bing incorporates its chat tool directly into search results. What sets Google apart is its massive user base and the added convenience of combining short answers with deeper exploration in a single space.
This competitive pressure has allegedly pushed OpenAI into what’s been dubbed “Code Red”, a sharp pivot to match Google’s advancements in conversational AI within foundational products.
How You Can Prepare and Benefit
Understanding new tech won’t necessarily skyrocket your startup, but adapting quickly might just give you an edge. How to get started:
- Test the Features: If you’re a Google user on mobile, try searching for a topic relevant to your business and ask follow-up questions in AI Mode.
- Experiment with Use Cases:
- Competitor Research: Use AI Mode to analyze competing businesses by asking layered questions.
- Customer Insights: Quickly scan industry trends to identify changing customer preferences.
- Incorporate it into Daily Workflows: See where transitioning from summaries to chat-based exploration fits into how your team works, be it content creation, operations, or planning.
If testing isn’t available in your region, explore similar tools on platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Bing. Both are refining conversational search but don’t yet offer the tight integration Google is putting forward.
Mistakes Entrepreneurs Often Make with New Tech
Even as tools become more user-friendly, rushing to adopt them without a plan can backfire. Consider these common pitfalls:
- Relying Solely on AI: While helpful, these tools don’t replace human judgment. Always validate critical data from reliable sources.
- Ignoring the Learning Curve: Whether it’s AI Mode or a competitor tool, allow your team time to adapt. Don’t expect instant productivity boosts.
- Data Misuse: AI might surface contextual insights that need further interpretation. Blindly trusting outputs can lead to decisions based on incomplete information.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe
As a Netherlands-based entrepreneur, I've often noticed how access to smart tools can level the playing field for women in business. Historically underrepresented in tech-focused startups, women benefit disproportionately when tools emerge that simplify workflows or reduce manual effort. Here's what I’d stress:
- Stay Curious: Technology is democratizing opportunity. Google’s AI advancements should remind you to stay open to experimenting with tools that save time and improve clarity.
- Invest in Awareness: Learn how these technologies fit your industry. Maybe you're a business coach or run a creative agency. Refining information gathering with AI has relevance for both.
- Build Your Network: Sharing experiences with other female founders helps accelerate collective learning. If you're not sure where to start, platforms like the European Women in Tech community or Fe/male Switch offer channels to connect.
Takeaways to Watch in 2026
Google’s experiment shines a light on the future of search. Conversational AI is replacing the static query box, focusing on long-form natural interactions instead. While this makes it exciting for users to find deeper answers, there’s also relevance across industries for businesses adopting these advanced tools.
For European startups, particularly those founded by women like Fe/male Switch, the merging of AI with search isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a chance to rethink how we run businesses. The simplicity in discovering information on tough topics or refining business questions is now more achievable than ever.
The tech space evolves constantly, and so must we as founders. If this Google feature launches at scale, take the time to study it. Early adoption could empower you to work smarter, save time, and even gain an edge over competitors who stick to traditional approaches. Smart entrepreneurship, after all, is about spotting and responding to opportunities before they fully form. So keep your eyes open, this might just be one of those.
FAQ
1. What is Google testing with its search engine?
Google is testing a new system that merges AI Overviews (concise AI summaries at the top of search results) with AI Mode (a conversational chat feature). This integration allows users to transition seamlessly from quick answers to in-depth AI discussions. Read about Google’s new test
2. How do AI Overviews and AI Mode currently work?
AI Overviews provide quick AI-generated summaries at the top of search results, while AI Mode is a separate tab where users can chat with Google’s Gemini AI. The test aims to unify these into a single, fluid experience. Learn more about AI Overviews and AI Mode
3. Why is this test important?
The test simplifies how users interact with search by merging searchable summaries and conversational tools into one space. It has potential to streamline workflows, especially for entrepreneurs and researchers. Discover why this matters to users
4. How does this update compare to competitors like OpenAI and Microsoft?
Google’s approach integrates conversational AI directly into its dominant search ecosystem. OpenAI offers similar tools through ChatGPT, and Microsoft embeds Bing Chat into search. Explore how Google stacks up to its rivals
5. Who can access this new combined feature?
Currently, the test is rolled out globally on mobile devices. Users can toggle between AI Overviews and AI Mode during their searches without switching tabs. Check out details of the rollout
6. How does this impact entrepreneurs' productivity?
For entrepreneurs, the unified system saves time by delivering precise answers and facilitating deeper queries in a single workflow. This could enhance decision-making and reduce research times. Read why this is a productivity booster
7. How has user adoption of AI Overviews and Gemini AI grown?
AI Overviews reaches 2 billion monthly users, while Gemini AI, which powers AI Mode, achieved 650 million global users as of November 2025. This massive adoption highlights its potential impact. Understand AI adoption rates
8. What competitive challenges does this pose to OpenAI?
OpenAI is reportedly under pressure as Google merges its search and conversational tools. This move could shift user attention away from ChatGPT-like solutions and back to Google. Explore OpenAI’s “Code Red” strategy
9. How can users prepare to benefit from these advancements?
Users should test the AI features within Google Search to see how it improves workflows like competitor research and trend analysis. Experimenting with follow-up queries can showcase its depth. Learn how to try these features
10. What lessons can this development offer to female entrepreneurs?
For women in startups, such tools democratize access to technology by automating tedious tasks like market research, freeing up time to focus on strategy and growth. Find out how this supports women in business
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
