What the new plus button offers in Google Search
Google appears to be testing a new utility within Search that invites users to upload images and documents for analysis powered by Google AI Mode. While Google has not issued an official blog post detailing the feature, early users report a visible “+” button within the search interface. The addition hints at a broader push to integrate generative and analytical AI capabilities directly into the search experience, moving beyond plain text results to contextual insights derived from user-provided content.
In practice, the feature promises to let you submit media or documents for quick interpretation, extraction of facts, summaries, or suggestions based on the content you share. This aligns with a growing trend in search engines blending traditional indexing with on-demand AI analysis, enabling more precise answers when a query involves a specific image or document context.
How it seems to work and where to find it
Reports describe a visible plus button within the Google Search results interface. When clicked, users may be prompted to upload supported file types (such as images and common document formats). The system then leverages AI to analyze the uploaded material, returning results that are tailored to the content. The exact workflow—whether it shows a live chat-style response, a summary pane, or a sequence of generated insights—remains under conversation, as Google awaits official confirmation and broader rollout.
As with other AI-assisted features in search, the tool appears designed to supplement, not replace, traditional results. You would still see relevant web results, with the uploaded content offering additional context to sharpen answers or reveal details not readily captured by keywords alone.
What you can upload and potential use cases
While specifications are still scarce, it’s reasonable to expect common image formats (JPEG, PNG) and standard document types (PDF, DOCX, TXT) to be supported. Practical uses could include:
- Extracting key data from a contract or resume for quick summarization.
- Summarizing a product manual or scientific paper embedded in a PDF.
- Analyzing an image to identify objects, scenes, or textual content appearing within.
- Cross-referencing uploaded content with online results to generate more targeted answers.
Privacy, data handling, and user considerations
As with any upload-based AI feature, privacy and data handling are central concerns. Users should look for official privacy disclosures from Google about how long uploaded content is retained, whether it’s used to train models, and who has access to the data. For many, the assurance that uploads are ephemeral or opt-out options for data use will influence adoption. Given the absence of an official blog post at launch, users should monitor Google’s official channels for clarifications and terms of use before relying on the feature for sensitive information.
How this fits into the broader AI in search trend
The new plus button highlights a broader trajectory: search interfaces becoming more interactive and AI-assisted. By enabling direct analysis of user-provided content, Google is experimenting with turning static results into dynamic, data-rich insights. If widely deployed, this could reduce the need for manual data extraction, making complex documents easier to digest and questions more precisely answered through AI-driven interpretation.
Practical tips if you try it
If you come across the feature, keep these tips in mind:
- Try simple, clearly formatted documents first to gauge how the AI interprets sections, tables, and figures.
- Test both image-based prompts (describing an image) and document prompts (asking for summaries or key facts).
- Note any prompts that trigger extra clarifying questions from the AI, which can help you refine your inquiries.
- Verify results against the original content to ensure accuracy, especially for critical decisions.
What to expect next
With the feature still in a detectable testing phase, user feedback and official documentation will likely follow. If Google expands AI Mode uploads to more formats and introduces clear privacy terms, the utility could become a standard tool for researchers, students, professionals, and everyday information seekers who want smarter, content-aware search experiences.
