Google’s Q3 call signals shift away from classic Search

Google’s Q3 earnings call revealed that traditional Search is being de-emphasized in favor of an AI-driven, task-completion model, despite reporting its strongest query growth in five years. The company credited AI Mode for driving this growth, including commercial queries, but acknowledged these interactions generate less advertising revenue than classic Search. Executives also outlined plans to expand agentic experiences across Search, Gemini, Chrome, Android, and Workspace. This shift raises concerns for site owners and SEOs, as Google’s focus on keeping users within its ecosystem suggests fewer referrals to the open web, even as query volumes reach record highs.