Google is exploring significant changes to its business model by considering the introduction of charges for AI-powered search features, as reported by the Financial Times. This move marks a potential shift away from Google's traditional model of offering free search services, with the company looking into adding certain AI-powered search functionalities to its premium subscription services, including access to its new Gemini AI assistant in Gmail and Docs. This development comes amid discussions on how to monetize new "premium" search features powered by generative AI, which would be a first for Google in terms of putting any part of its core Search product behind a paywall. The traditional search engine will remain free of charge, and ads will continue to appear alongside search results even for subscribers. This strategy is seen as an effort to make it more attractive for users to become paying subscribers for access to unique AI functionality across many Google products. Following the news, Google's stock was up 2% in after-hours trading.