What Are Google Information Agents?
Google Information Agents are AI-powered tools built into Google Search’s AI Mode that automatically track specific topics, scan the web for new developments, and send you tailored updates without needing repeated searches. Instead of checking search results over and over, you describe what you care about—like a movie, a sports tournament, or a product release—and an agent keeps watch in the background. Announced at Google I/O as part of Google’s expanded AI search capabilities, the feature is designed to make search proactive rather than reactive. According to Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google Search, information agents are now available “in all AI Mode languages & markets for Google AI Ultra subscribers,” with a broader rollout promised in the summer. The goal is to bring the old idea of Google Alerts into a conversational, AI-driven interface that lives directly inside AI Mode.
How Automated Topic Tracking and AI Mode Alerts Work
Information Agents run as ongoing tasks inside AI Mode, turning a single query into continuous automated topic tracking. Google says these agents “look across everything on the web, like blogs, news sites and social posts,” along with fresher streams such as finance, shopping, and sports data. When they detect new or changed information related to your topic, they generate AI Mode alerts. Those alerts appear in two places: inside the same AI Mode conversation that spawned the agent and as notifications in the Google app on your phone. In practice, that means you might see a new AI response summarizing an update, plus links to the underlying sources. If you delete the conversation that holds the agent, updates stop, since the agent is tied to that specific AI Mode thread and its stored context.
Real-World Uses: From Apartments to Sneaker Drops
Google’s pitch is that Information Agents can handle the repetitive monitoring that people often do manually. One example is apartment hunting: you can “brain dump” requirements—budget, neighborhood, number of bedrooms—then let the agent watch listings and notify you when something fits. Another popular use is tracking limited releases and events. Google highlights sneaker fans who ask AI Mode to keep them updated on collaborations from favorite athletes; the agent can alert them when a new sneaker is announced and again when it goes on sale. Lifehacker’s testing shows similar value for entertainment and sports, such as following World Cup news or updates on the next James Bond film. While real-time alerts may not always fire perfectly yet, daily summaries at a set time worked reliably, summarizing the last 24 hours of relevant developments in a single digest.
Who Can Use Information Agents and What It Costs
Right now, Google Information Agents are a perk for Google AI Ultra subscribers, meaning access is tied to Google’s highest-tier AI plan rather than standard search users. Lifehacker notes that AI Ultra subscriptions are priced at USD 99.99 (approx. RM470) or USD 199.99 (approx. RM940) per month, and early access to information agents is one of the selling points at that level. Stein says the feature is available “for Google AI Ultra subscribers” across all languages and markets where AI Mode is offered, with expansion to more people planned for the summer. Android Authority reports that AI Pro subscribers are likely to gain access to broader “search agents” later, though timing is not confirmed. For now, if you are not on AI Ultra, you will need to wait for Google’s staged rollout before Information Agents appear in your AI Mode interface.
How to Set Up and Manage Your Information Agents
To create an Information Agent, open Google Search on the web or in the app, switch to AI Mode, and start a query as if you were chatting with Gemini. Ask something like “keep me updated on casting news for the next Christopher Nolan film” or “track new listings that match these apartment criteria.” After AI Mode answers, it may ask if you want to set up an Information Agent; if not, you can explicitly say “keep me updated on this topic.” Once confirmed, the agent is tied to that conversation, and future updates appear as new entries in the chat and as AI Mode alerts in the Google app. You can refine behavior by asking for a daily summary at a specific time rather than ad-hoc alerts. If you delete the conversation, you effectively turn off that agent, stopping further updates.
