For years Google Trends has been the gold standard for understanding what the world is curious about, as it’s a powerful, real-time pulse on human curiosity reflected by searches on Google. Unlike standard keyword tools that show volume (how many people), Trends shows intent and momentum (where things are going).
Whether you are a journalist chasing a story, a creator looking for the next viral topic, or a researcher analysing consumer behaviour, the data has always been there, but finding the “why” behind the “what” just got much easier as Google has recently reimagined the Trends Explore page, integrating Gemini AI to transform how we interact with search data.
What’s New?
The centerpiece of this update is a new AI-powered side panel. Traditionally, if you wanted to compare related search terms, you had to manually brainstorm and input them one by one. Now Gemini does the heavy lifting. When a topic is searched for e.g. “dog breeds”, the AI automatically identifies and populates the graph with up to eight relevant comparisons, such as “golden retriever” or “beagle.”
Beyond simple comparisons, the tool offers suggested prompts to help users dive deeper into niche categories, like “hypoallergenic breeds” or “large dog breeds.” This ensures that not just a single data point is shown, but a comprehensive map of the conversation.
A Modernised Experience
The visual overhaul is equally impressive. The new interface uses dedicated icons and distinct color-coding for each term, making complex graphs significantly easier to read at a glance. Furthermore, Google has doubled the amount of “rising queries” shown on the timeline, providing more context on why specific terms are suddenly gaining momentum.
Why It Matters
In an era where information moves at lightning speed, the ability to quickly synthesise search intent is invaluable. By leveraging generative AI, Google Trends is moving from a static data tool to an intuitive research partner. Currently rolling out on desktop, this update ensures that the next time the question “what is trending” is asked, the answer will be not only faster but far more insightful.
If you want to know more about how your business could use Trends Explore effectively for research, SEO and business strategy in 2026, please get in touch.