Gemini 3 Flash is now powering AI Mode in Search — but can it actually replace how we use Google?

Google's new Gemini 3 Flash AI model launched as the default option both on its own in Gemini and as the engine behind AI Mode in Google Search. Faster than the Gemini 1.5 family it replaces, Google claims the new model carries pretty much all of the power of the larger Gemini 3 models released earlier this year.

Powering AI Mode in Search with Gemini 3 Flash fits with Google's efforts to encourage more people to use the blend of AI chatbot and regular search engine, but raises the question of how it does relative to the more traditional option one tab over.

I put together a non-scientific test of the two to see how they stack up and if Gemini 3 Flash might convince me, or anyone else, to skip over the usual Google search.

To test them, I've used incomplete sentences and keywords in Search to keep it fair, as how you do a regular Google search isn't usually how you converse with a chatbot.

Remodeling under budget

One major reason people like Google searches is that they can often offer a quick range of choices based on a couple of parameters, at least with a few extra clicks. I decided to look at how well Gemini Flash 3 could offer helpful results within a strict budget, even if the goal was vague. I typed "$200 home office upgrades three options"

Google’s standard results page delivered the usual Reddit links plus listicles from various websites. Each one had solid recommendations, but would require me to look through them and pair them with prices for a budget.

AI Mode using Gemini 3 Flash was about as fast as the regular search, but set up three product packages, one based on ergonomics, one on lighting, and one on just upgrading the desk. Each package came with short explanations and links to models. With the caveat that applies to all AI around trust, it was certainly a neat curation of options within the stated budget.

Tech support

Troubleshooting queries are always popular for search engines, so I went with one involving multiple systems and possible causes, with a demand for a fix. I searched for "iPhone slow apps on home Wi‑Fi troubleshooting."

Search pulled up Apple support, videos of expert fuiance, and forum links. The answers were likely in there, but if I'm impatient and lazy, it's annoying to have to hunt around.

AI Mode again almost instantly provided a selection of potential issues, each with a set of possible solutions and steps to take. It's nothing that wouldn't be available on the links, as evidenced by the citation links provided in the answer, but it did streamline the process and went through the usual suspects of DNS issues, device background activity, and router congestion, among others.

Photo advice

Sometimes you want help that's more qualitative in nature. There may not be an exact answer, or it may depend on personal details. There's a lot of good advice based on comparisons that weigh trade-offs, especially in technology, but making a decision can be tricky. So, I searched for "photo backup iCloud Google Photos external drive best option." It's a string of phrases that likely has appeared in some form on Google millions of times a month for many years.

Google Search handed me a mix of product pages, Reddit threads, and opinion pieces. Some were several years old. Others assumed I was fully committed to either Apple or Google already. There were pros and cons, but I had to read several articles to get a complete picture. Most framed the options individually rather than side-by-side. Or only did a side-by-side in a table.

Gemini 3 Flash laid out a table too, but then went through each option, who it would be best for, and why, and then narrowed it down to whether I was a regular person or a professional with a truly enormous number of photos to store. There was no universal recommendation, just use-case breakdowns. Again, nothing that was not out there already, but just more conveniently organized for me specifically.

So, which is better — Google search or AI Mode?

If you want to click through to the original source for every claim, Google Search remains the best there is. It offers depth, variety, and instant access to the world’s information if you’re willing to chase it down. Classic Google Search thrives on raw breadth and reliable links to primary sources.

But when clarity, context, and time-saving matter more than seeing every single page of results, Gemini 3 Flash in AI Mode is appealing because it has the same speed as a the list of links, but with clarity and context. Not to mention the links are still there if you want to click on them

A narrative tailored to your question is hard to resist. The melding of online information and AI reasoning, when it works, works very well indeed. But it won’t always be the right tool. There are times when you need raw data, individual details, or firsthand experiences. But just like how the front page of a Google search became valuable because the answers were usually found from a link there, AI Mode using Gemini Flash 3 could easily be the default for searches with low stakes or that demand speed over depth.

Google Search is what I would prefer for anything involving original source material or uncertain claims. But a curated summary can be good enough in many cases, as much as performing your own comprehensive research would be ideal.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

The best business laptops for all budgets

➡️ Read our full guide to the best business laptops
1. Best overall:
Dell Precision 5690
2. Best on a budget:
Acer Aspire 5
3. Best MacBook:
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4)