Google AI Mode shows same products 21.6% more expensive than traditional search
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Google AI Mode shows same product listings 21.6% more expensive than traditional search.
Over 23 days tracking 2 million product listings across 100,000 SERPs, matched products appearing in both Google AI Mode and traditional search were 21.6% more expensive in AI Mode on average. Only 1.28% of products ranked in traditional search also appeared in AI Mode for the same query. When prices disagreed between the two, AI Mode was the pricier side 68.4% of the time, with a median difference of 22.2%. The main seller differed 49.6% of the time on matched products. Overall, median product price was $149 in AI Mode vs $100 in traditional search, a 49% gap.
What commenters are saying
Commenters debated whether AI Mode's higher prices reflect surfacing manufacturer pages (full MSRP) over third-party marketplace listings, which may be cheaper but carry risks of knock-offs, scams, or poor customer service. Several noted that the cheapest seller often involves hidden shipping costs or checkout fees, making the comparison less straightforward. Others speculated that Google's separate shopping widget optimizes for low price, while AI Mode prioritizes information and reliability. There was agreement that the seller swap on nearly half of matched products is a bigger concern than the price gap, suggesting AI Mode uses different selection criteria beyond price.