When Google quietly rolled out its new AI Mode, the search landscape shifted.
And if we’re being honest, even we at Digital Sage had a moment of, “Wait… what just happened?”
Suddenly, what used to be predictable about SEO and search visibility is now… less so.
AI Mode isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a complete rethink of how people search, and how businesses need to respond.
So, What Is Google’s AI Mode?
In short: it’s Google Search with a generative AI overlay.
Instead of serving up a traditional list of links, AI Mode generates synthesized answers pulled from multiple sources, personalized based on your habits, preferences, calendar events, Gmail content, and even Maps history.
It feels less like browsing and more like having a conversation. You’re being guided to a solution, not just a list of websites.
That’s a big shift.
Internal Reflection: Even We Are Searching Differently Now
Here’s where it gets real.
As an agency working across marketing and tech, we ourselves have started skipping Google and going straight to AI for answers.
Need a quick framework? We ask ChatGPT.
Want a coding snippet or design idea? We run it through Claude or Gemini.
Looking for a content hook? AI is our first stop, not the second.
This isn’t theoretical. This is already happening in our workflows. So when Google’s AI Mode went live, it didn’t feel like a product update. It felt like the world catching up to how search behavior has already changed.
What This Means for Businesses (Especially in Brunei and Southeast Asia)
In a region where many businesses are still catching up to traditional SEO, this leap forward can feel overwhelming.
In Brunei, for example, digital adoption is growing, but a lot of businesses are still building their first websites, optimizing keywords for the first time, or testing Meta ads for the first time. To suddenly hear “Google is now an AI assistant” can feel out of sync with what’s currently happening here on the ground.
And yes, it’s true that AI Mode is currently only available in the US.
Businesses in Brunei and Southeast Asia haven’t seen this version of Google Search yet.
But here’s why this shift still matters now:
While AI Mode hasn’t reached us, the behavior behind it already has.
People in Brunei are already using AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to look for recommendations, business ideas, or quick answers; skipping traditional Google entirely. Even within our own team at Digital Sage, we find ourselves reaching for AI first instead of typing into the Google bar.
This is no longer about early adoption. This is about adapting to what’s already happening.
The direction of search is clear.
And the businesses that get ready now: by improving content structure, intent alignment, and machine-readable formats, will be the ones that stand out when AI-first search becomes the norm in this region too.
So, What Should You Do Now?
This isn’t about panic. It’s about preparation.
Instead of chasing rankings, we need to start focusing on relevance, intent, and structure. We need to make sure your content makes sense, not just to people, but to machines trying to personalize answers.
That means:
- Building content that answers specific, high-intent questions
- Structuring your site for clarity
- Using schema markup to signal what your pages are about
- Creating a user journey that focuses on solving, not just selling
How We’re Helping Our Clients Adjust
At Digital Sage, we’ve already started shifting how we approach content, SEO, and site structure to fit this new reality.
Whether you’re a service provider in Brunei, an ecommerce brand in Southeast Asia, or a company building regionally, we help you:
- Craft content designed to surface in AI-generated answers
- Align messaging with user intent rather than just keywords
- Optimize on-page SEO elements and schema to support context-based ranking
- Guide you on how to work with your dev or web team (or with Digital Sage Tech) to ensure your platform is technically ready for this shift
We focus on helping your brand stay visible and relevant: not just in search rankings, but within AI-driven answers and discovery.
📌 Save this if your marketing or SEO strategy hasn’t been updated in the last 6 months. This is your reminder to start now.
Change is already here. Let’s help you adapt early before your competitors do.
💬 Reach out to us at [email protected]