Google has replaced its traditional search icon with a plus sign, reflecting a broader overhaul of its flagship product to integrate AI features such as image analysis, conversational search, and generative summaries, marking a significant shift from conventional search methods.
Google has quietly replaced its familiar magnifying-glass search icon with a simple “+” on the Search homepage, a visual signal of a broader shift to AI-centred experiences that alters both the look and the functionality of its flagship product. According to the original report, the new “+” serves as an access point for uploading images and documents and for invoking “AI mode” features that feed content into generative search workflows. [1]
The change is more than cosmetic: Google is integrating tools that let users supply images and files to the engine for analysis and conversational follow-up, a move the company says will enable richer, context-aware answers rather than a list of isolated links. Industry reporting notes this is part of a deliberate pivot away from the traditional “10 blue links” model toward AI-generated summaries and guided interactions. [1][2]
That pivot was formalised earlier in 2025 with the introduction of an experimental AI-only search option available to subscribers of Google One’s AI Premium tier, where “AI Mode” replaces standard result pages with comprehensive, Gemini-powered summaries that include cited hyperlinks and a follow-up search bar. According to the original report, the paid feature was designed to handle complex queries with enhanced reasoning and to surface source links within the AI response. [2]
Google has continued to iterate: product updates announced by the company describe visual exploration in AI Mode, conversational refinement of queries, and an expanded Shopping Graph that surfaces product details, reviews and deals from merchants worldwide. According to the announcement, AI Mode increasingly understands images and natural language together, enabling features such as visual results and more natural follow‑up questioning. [4]
The rollout of the “+” and related AI experiences sits alongside other Google moves to weave generative AI across its ecosystem. The company has brought Gemini-style assistance into Chrome and other apps and refreshed brand assets to reflect an AI era, changes that reinforce a strategy of embedding assistant features directly into everyday tools. Google’s messaging frames these as enhancements that preserve Search’s underlying simplicity while adding new ways to interact with content. [6][3]
Competitors are responding with similar integrations: Microsoft has introduced an Edge “Copilot Mode” that centralises chat, search and navigation in a single input and provides visual indicators and permission controls when the AI accesses browsing content. The parallel developments show a broader industry trend of turning browsers and search into active assistants rather than passive indexes. [5]
Critics and some privacy advocates have cautioned about the trade-offs inherent in these changes, particularly around how user-supplied content is stored, cited and used to train models; Google’s product materials emphasise user control and cited sources but industry observers say transparency and governance will be central to user trust as the features expand. According to reporting, Google’s AI Mode is already available widely in the United States and the company continues to test wider deployment and new capabilities such as video-based search and automated transactions. [7][1][4]
As the plus sign replaces a decades-old metaphor for search, the symbol serves as a succinct summary of the product’s new purpose: not just finding information, but actively interpreting, combining and conversing with it on the user’s behalf. The company claims this will produce deeper, more actionable results; independent reporting and prior experiments suggest the feature set will evolve rapidly as Google balances utility, accuracy and user expectations. [1][2][4]
📌 Reference Map:
##Reference Map:
- [1] (TechTimes) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 8
- [2] (Reuters) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 8
- [4] (Google Blog) – Paragraph 4, Paragraph 7, Paragraph 8
- [6] (TechRadar) – Paragraph 5
- [3] (Android Central) – Paragraph 5
- [5] (Reuters) – Paragraph 6
- [7] (AP News) – Paragraph 7
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being December 15, 2025. The ‘+’ symbol replacing the magnifying glass in Google Search was reported by 9to5Google on the same date. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2025/12/15/google-search-plus-menu/?utm_source=openai)) The TechTimes article provides additional context but does not introduce new information. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative is not based on a press release, and there is no evidence of recycled content. The ‘+’ symbol is a new feature, indicating a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes are present in the narrative, so this check is not applicable.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from TechTimes, a source with a mixed reputation. While it is not a major news outlet, it is not entirely obscure. The information aligns with reports from more reputable sources like 9to5Google, which adds credibility. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2025/12/15/google-search-plus-menu/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claim that Google has replaced the magnifying glass with a ‘+’ symbol in Search is plausible and corroborated by other reputable sources. The ‘+’ symbol serves as an access point for uploading images and documents and invoking ‘AI mode’ features, aligning with Google’s recent AI integrations. ([blog.google](https://blog.google/products/search/search-ai-updates-september-2025/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks specific factual anchors like names, institutions, or dates, but this is understandable given the nature of the update. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate communications, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh and corroborated by other reputable sources, with no significant credibility risks identified. The ‘+’ symbol replacing the magnifying glass in Google Search is a plausible and verifiable claim, indicating a PASS assessment with high confidence.
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