Google tests blue Send button that replaces AI Mode in the search box

Google’s new blue “Send” button could redirect searches away from AI Mode — what to watch

Google is experimenting with a visual change in its search box that replaces the AI Mode button with a blue “Send” button as users begin typing. Search Engine Land reported the test on Jan 2, 2026, noting that “Google is testing showing a blue “Send” button in the search box as you begin to type your query.” This small UX tweak, spotted by search observers, may shift how many users access Google’s AI-powered results versus traditional search results, and it’s worth monitoring for marketers and site owners.

What was observed

As first documented by Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Land, the AI Mode control — normally visible at the right side of Google’s search box — can disappear while a user types and be replaced by a prominent blue “Send” button. Search observers, including Shameem Adhikarath, posted screenshots and a short video showing the replacement in action. SEO Roundtable summarized the same behavior: “Shameem Adhikarath spotted this change and posted screenshots and a screencast of it on X — this seems to replace the new AI Mode button.”

Key points

• The change is a test and not a confirmed rollout.
• The blue “Send” button appears while users enter queries and appears to submit the query into standard Google Search results rather than AI Mode.
• If rolled out, the change could reduce direct traffic to Google’s AI Mode and send more users to conventional search results, affecting click patterns and visibility.

Why this matters for your site

Even small UI tests at Google can have outsized effects on traffic and click behavior. If the Send button makes it easier to stick with traditional search results, sites optimized for classic organic features — page titles, meta descriptions, structured data, and featured snippets — may see improved click-through from queries that would otherwise go straight into AI-driven overviews.

Practical steps to take now

• Monitor traffic and SERP feature impressions. Use Google Search Console and analytics to watch for changes in impressions, CTR, and the presence of AI-related snippets.
• Optimize for both AI and traditional SERPs. Structure content for clear answers and strong supporting pages so you remain visible whether Google surfaces an AI overview or a standard result.
• Prioritize high-intent landing pages. If AI Overviews reduce clicks for some queries, strengthen pages that match clear user intent and provide immediate value to encourage clicks and conversions.
• Audit featured snippet opportunities. With more users potentially staying in classic results, opportunities to capture featured snippets and People Also Ask answers could become more important.
• Keep an eye on UX experiments. Track industry reports (Search Engine Land, SEO Roundtable) and social posts by search observers like Shameem Adhikarath for early signals of changes that affect behavior.

Analysis and implications

Google’s UX tests reflect an ongoing balancing act: integrating AI features while preserving the core search experience. A tactile “Send” affordance nudges users toward hitting Enter or tapping a visible button — a small nudge that can meaningfully change behavior at scale. As Search Engine Land observed, “If this launches, this may send fewer people to Google’s AI Mode and more searchers to Google Search.” For publishers and SEOs, that means the case for traditional on-page optimization remains strong, and agility in monitoring traffic signals is essential.

One direct takeaway: maintain a dual optimization strategy. Prepare for AI overviews by producing authoritative, concise answers with trustworthy citations, while simultaneously keeping the classic signals — page speed, title tags, meta descriptions, schema markup — in top shape to win traditional clicks.

SEO Roundtable adds a practical observation: “Clicking \”Send\” take you to Google Search results and not into AI Mode.” That distinction matters because it means user flows that previously could have funneled into an AI Mode interaction may now land on your site instead, restoring some of the referral volume AI Overviews had reduced.

Where to watch next

Track reports from Search Engine Land (https://searchengineland.com/google-tests-blue-send-button-that-replaces-ai-mode-in-the-search-box-466976) and monitor social posts by observers like Shameem Adhikarath on X for screenshots and short videos. Use Google Search Console, analytics tools, and rank trackers to measure the real-world impact on impressions, clicks, and CTR across affected queries.

Small UI tests can become platform-level changes. Staying informed and ready to adapt your content strategy will keep your site competitive whether Google emphasizes AI-driven answers or classic search results.

Attribution: Barry Schwartz, Search Engine Land. Read the original article here: https://searchengineland.com/google-tests-blue-send-button-that-replaces-ai-mode-in-the-search-box-466976