Image results for (whatever) at the top of the SERP

[annej]

Is this something new? On some searches I'm seeing pictures related to the search phrase at the top of the page with a link "image results for (the topic)" just above the images. If you click on that you go to the image search results.

Are they trying to make people more aware of the image search option?

I'm trying to figure out what sort of search phrases get these images in the results page but I can't find any pattern.

[sem4u]

It is certainly not new. There does not seem to be a pattern to it. Just like the Froogle results that sometimes sit at the top of the SERPs, Google are just trying to show users what they think people are searching for and to give users more options like shopping and image searches.

[annej]

I'd noticed the Froogle results. I guess I had never run across the images before.