Google overhauls search and AI pricing

Google used its May 19 I/O 2026 conference to tie together three parts of its AI push: Search, Gemini and new hardware. The company said it was upgrading AI Mode in Search, adding more agent-like features in Gemini and bringing Android XR glasses to market later this year. At the same time, it changed the way it charges for premium AI access, introducing a new $100 monthly Google AI Ultra tier and lowering the price of its top Ultra plan to $200 from $250. Google’s moves came as the company and its rivals face renewed scrutiny over how easily AI systems can still be pushed into producing false or misleading material. ### What exactly changed in Google Search? Google said on May 19 that AI Mode is now getting Gemini 3.5 Flash as its default model globally. Elizabeth Reid, Google’s vice president for Search, said the company was also rolling out what it called the biggest upgrade to the Search box in more than 25 years, with a redesigned interface that accepts text, images, files, videos and Chrome tabs as inputs. (blog.google) Search is also being pushed toward longer, back-and-forth use. Google said users can now move directly from an AI Overview into an AI Mode conversation on desktop and mobile worldwide, with context carried over between turns. The company also said it is entering what it called the “era of Search agents,” letting users create and manage multiple AI agents inside Search. (blog.google) ### Why did the pricing shift stand out? Google said its subscription changes took effect starting May 19 and were aimed at giving different types of users more tailored access. The new $100-per-month AI Ultra plan is positioned for developers, technical leads, knowledge workers and advanced creators, according to a company post by Shimrit Ben-Yair. (blog.google) The same update said Google cut the monthly price of its top AI Ultra tier to $200 from $250 while keeping the same capabilities. The $100 tier includes a 5-times higher usage limit in the Gemini app and Google Antigravity than the Pro plan, 20 terabytes of storage and a YouTube Premium individual plan. Google’s support pages say the higher Ultra tier includes 30 terabytes of storage, 25,000 monthly AI credits and, in some regions, YouTube Premium at no extra cost. (blog.google) Google AI Pro remains the lower paid tier and includes 5 terabytes of storage and 1,000 monthly AI credits, according to Google One support documentation. ### Where do Gemini and the glasses fit in? Google used I/O to present Gemini less as a standalone chatbot and more as a layer across products. (blog.google) Its I/O roundup said the company was extending “agentic experiences” across Search, the Gemini app, shopping tools and new devices, while also releasing Gemini Omni and Gemini 3.5. (support.google.com) Android XR glasses were one of the clearest hardware examples. Shahram Izadi, Google’s vice president and general manager for XR, said Google would offer two types of intelligent eyewear: audio glasses and display glasses. Audio glasses are due first later this fall, and Google said the first designs will come through partnerships with Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The glasses are designed to handle directions, messages, photos, translation and Gemini queries without requiring a phone in hand. (blog.google) ### What does the misinformation issue have to do with this rollout? Google’s own support pages for AI Ultra say experimental features “won’t always get it right” and may produce inaccurate or inappropriate responses. That warning has become more important as Google places AI deeper inside Search and consumer products. (blog.google) The BBC reported this week that Google has been working to counter attempts to manipulate AI-generated search results and chatbot outputs. That pressure sits alongside Google’s product expansion: the company is asking users to rely more heavily on AI answers even as providers continue to harden those systems against abuse, according to the BBC’s reporting referenced in the source brief. (support.google.com) ### What happens next? Google said Gemini Spark, a 24/7 agent included with AI Ultra plans, will begin rolling out to trusted testers this week and is planned for a U.S. beta for AI Ultra subscribers next week. The company also said audio glasses are coming later in the fall, while broader I/O announcements continue to roll out through Google’s product pages and support documentation. (blog.google) (support.google.com)