Google's recent AI momentum, exemplified by Gemini's rise and the launch of AI Mode, stems from tight integration between research and product teams, along with a strategic push to enhance—not replace—traditional search. AI Mode enables natural, multi-turn queries using Google’s vast data ecosystem, differentiating it from competitors focused on creative or productivity tasks. Success hinges on three core principles: understanding user motivations via Jobs to Be Done, prioritizing clarity over cleverness, and maintaining simplicity. Past experiences at Instagram, such as launching Stories and refining Close Friends, underscore the importance of aligning features with real behaviors and scaling only after internal conviction and external validation. Stein emphasizes relentless improvement—balancing vision with data-driven iteration—and knowing when to shift from optimization to innovation. The future of search is multimodal, conversational, and curiosity-driven, expanding how users explore information across visual and interactive domains.