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Google AI Mode Expands Tools for Students

Google’s latest AI Mode update brings new study aids for students: image uploads for homework help, PDF integration, real-time camera Q&A, Chrome sidebar summaries, and a Canvas workspace for interactive study guides. These features aim to make research and test prep more intuitive and efficient.

Published July 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM EDT in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Google just rolled out its biggest set of upgrades to AI Mode, targeting students who need instant help with their coursework. With desktop image uploads, PDF support on the horizon, and interactive Canvas workspaces, this update turns Search into a full-fledged study companion.

Upload Images and PDFs for Instant Help

In April, Google tested image uploads in AI Mode. Now on desktop, students can snap a photo of a tough math equation, biology diagram, or historical map and get answers instantly. Later this year, PDF uploads will let learners drop in lecture slides or homework packets for in-depth Q&A.

Real-Time Camera Sharing for Mobile

Building on Search Live, AI Mode Labs on mobile will soon let US users point their phone camera at a plant in biology class or a sentence in a foreign language text and ask questions aloud. It’s like having a tutor wherever you go.

Chrome Sidebar Summaries with Lens Integration

Chrome’s address bar will soon feature “Ask Google about this page.” Click it and the browser sidebar displays an AI Overview—summaries, key points, and follow-up prompts. You can even dive deeper by switching to AI Mode at the top of Lens results.

Canvas Workspace: Interactive Study Guides

Google’s Canvas in AI Mode, now heading to desktop via Search Labs, offers a sidebar workspace. Students can:

  • Compile notes from multiple sources into a custom study guide
  • Refine essays, build quizzes, or brainstorm project ideas with iterative AI prompts
  • Visualize workflows or timelines by asking Canvas to organize data graphically

By combining these additions—images, PDFs, live camera, Chrome integration, and Canvas—Google is turning AI Mode into a one-stop academic assistant. It’s a clear sign of how AI-driven search is evolving beyond blue links to rich, interactive learning tools.

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