Google is quietly refreshing its AI Mode voice input interface ahead of the upcoming Search Live event, introducing a sleek new animation that replaces the old rectangular speech indicator. This new feature modernizes how users interact with AI Mode via voice.
Now, when you tap the microphone icon next to the submit button, you’ll see an arc-shaped waveform indicator that pulses between the AI Mode colors as you speak. Your words transcribe in real-time below, offering a cleaner, more immersive voice interaction experience. It’s a sharp upgrade from Google’s long-standing four bouncing dots and contributes to AI Mode’s polished UI.
This animation is also expected to feature in Search Live’s immersive conversation demos, giving users a preview ahead of the event. The updated voice input is rolling out today via a server-side update for version 16.20+ of the Google app on Android, while iPhone users already have it. A simple force stop from App info can trigger the update on Android devices.
