Google has finally launched its new "Search Live" feature in India, marking the first time the tool has been rolled out outside the United States. The new live search function introduces real-time, multimodal interaction to Google Search. Users can now interact with AI using voice commands or their device camera. For example, users can point their camera at a group of ingredients and ask how to prepare a recipe, and the AI will provide step-by-step guidance. By using voice and camera, searching becomes more interactive and user-friendly than traditional text-based searches. To start using this feature, users can open the Google app and find the new "Live" icon below the search bar. Alternatively, users can open Google Lens and tap the "Live" option at the bottom of the screen to get started. Initially, Search Live will support English and Hindi, with plans to add more Indian language support in the near future. At the same time, the company has expanded AI-powered search to support seven additional Indian languages, including Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. This update allows users across the country to interact with Google's AI-driven search in their native language, providing more accurate, context-aware responses. "This expansion is powered by the advanced reasoning capabilities of our custom Gemini model for search, going beyond simple translation and enabling AI mode to truly understand the nuances of local languages, ensuring the experience is genuinely helpful. AI mode will begin rolling out in these new languages starting next week," said the company led by Sundar Pichai. These developments come at a time when India's engagement with AI technology ranks among the highest globally. It is estimated that about 41% of Indian internet users use AI tools daily. Last year (2024), India led the world in the adoption of AI applications, accounting for 21% of more than 2.2 billion AI app downloads. Google's AI assistant app Gemini has gained significant attention in India, with over 450 million monthly active users worldwide. Even other Google AI-driven features, such as AI Overviews, currently serve more than 2 billion users monthly across over 200 countries and in 40 languages. Meanwhile, "AI mode" has attracted more than 100 million monthly users in key markets, including the U.S. and India. However, despite these advances, Google's AI efforts have not been without challenges and controversies. Last month, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into Google over safety concerns related to its AI chatbot Gemini. Previously, AI Overviews in Google Search faced criticism for allegedly causing traffic declines for many publishers and websites, with some reports citing drops as high as 80%.