Google is subtly but significantly reshaping the fundamental interaction of its core product. A new, unassuming plus (+) button has begun appearing in the desktop search bar, offering a direct shortcut to upload images and documents for instant analysis by Google's AI. This move represents more than a simple UI tweak; it's a strategic push to make AI-powered, conversational search a primary starting point for users, moving beyond the traditional keyword-and-links model that has defined the web for decades.
The New Gateway to AI Search
The change is deceptively simple. On the desktop version of Google Search, users are now finding a small plus icon positioned at the left side of the familiar search bar. Clicking it reveals a dropdown menu with two options: "Upload image" and "Upload file." Selecting either option immediately initiates a session in Google's AI Mode, where the company's multimodal generative AI models analyze the content of the upload. Users can then ask questions, request summaries, or seek explanations based on the file they provided. This functionality itself isn't new—AI Mode already supported file uploads—but its promotion from a hidden menu option to a front-and-center button on the homepage is a major shift in accessibility and intent.
User Interface & Experience Details
- Button Location: Left side of the main search bar.
- Button Icon: Plus (+) symbol.
- Menu Options: "Upload image" and "Upload file".
- User Onboarding: The UI provides minimal explanation; the tooltip only says "Upload files or images." AI Mode branding is only shown after a file is uploaded.
A Poorly Explained but Powerful Shortcut
Interestingly, Google's interface does little to advertise the AI power behind this new button. The tooltip that appears on hover simply states "Upload files or images," with no mention of AI Mode, generative AI, or the conversational experience that follows. This lack of clear signaling might cause some confusion, especially as the existing Lens integration within Search uses similar "upload a file" language for visual web searches. However, for users who discover its purpose, the button offers tangible utility by eliminating a step; instead of first clicking the dedicated AI Mode icon and then uploading a file, the process is now consolidated into a single action from the main search interface.
Part of a Broader Shift to Conversational AI
This update is not an isolated experiment but a clear piece of Google's larger strategy to evolve Search from a reactive tool into an interactive assistant. Over the past year, features like AI Overviews and the standalone AI Mode have been introduced to make finding information feel more like a dialogue. The new plus button accelerates this vision by placing file-based AI analysis at the very beginning of the user journey. It signals that Google wants searching to start with your own documents and photos as often as it starts with typed keywords, fundamentally changing the input paradigm of the world's most used search engine.
A Desktop-First Rollout with Mobile Potential
As of mid-December 2025, the feature is widely visible to desktop web users, even functioning in Incognito mode, indicating a broad test or rollout. Its absence on mobile browsers is likely intentional. Desktop environments are where users more commonly handle PDFs, Word documents, and screenshots—making it a logical starting point to gauge utility and interaction patterns. Given the deep integration of cameras and visual search on mobile devices, it is highly probable that a similar shortcut will eventually arrive on smartphones and tablets, further blending the lines between capturing the world and querying it.
Feature Availability & Platform Support
- Platform: Desktop web (google.com)
- Visibility: Wide rollout, visible in standard and Incognito browsing modes.
- Mobile Support: Not available as of December 2025.
- Core Function: Provides a direct shortcut to upload images/files into Google's AI Mode for analysis.
The Implications for Future Search
The quiet introduction of the plus button is a telling indicator of Google's priorities. By reducing the friction to enter AI Mode, Google is not just testing a feature; it is actively training its user base to adopt a new, more intuitive form of search. The long-term goal appears to be a seamless blend of traditional web search and generative AI analysis, where the choice between typing a query and uploading a context-rich file becomes equally natural. While the button itself is small, its placement on the iconic Google homepage represents one of the most direct efforts yet to mainstream AI-powered search, setting the stage for how billions of people will interact with information in the years to come.