Google opened AI Mode in the United States in 2025 as a tab next to the classic results, then in more countries. Unlike an AI Overview, which sits above a list of links, AI Mode replaces the list with a written answer and lets the person ask the next question in context.
For a brand, the question is the same as with any assistant: is the page among the sources the answer links to? Google says its ranking signals apply, and that pages with clear structure, original information and a verifiable author are favoured. Traffic from AI Mode shows in Search Console mixed with the rest of web search.