Introduction to Circle to Search

Key Takeaways 

• Google introduces a new feature, Circle to Search, enhancing the Android user experience. 

• Circle to Search allows users to search from anywhere on their phone.. 

• Google Lens now includes AI-powered visual search capabilities. 

• The new features aim to change the way users search, making it more intuitive and user-friendly

Google has been changing the way people use information for over two decades with its constant innovation and pioneering work in digital search. As AI has progressed, Google has been expanding its search capabilities to make them more user-friendly, informative, and accessible. 

Circle to Search and AI-powered overviews for multi-search in Lens are two revolutionary features that Google recently introduced and are expected to revolutionise the user experience. These features, born out of Google’s continuous experimentation and evolution in search user experience, aim to bring a wealth of information right at the user’s fingertips in the most natural way possible. 

Imagine being able to search for anything on your phone screen without having to switch apps. That’s the power of Circle to Search. This feature allows users to select images, text, or videos in whatever way comes naturally to them — like circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping — and find the information they need right where they are. It’s a new, intuitive way to search that’s changing the game for Android users. 

For instance, if you’re watching a video and want to know more about a particular item that a creator is wearing, you can simply activate Circle to Search by long pressing the home button or navigation bar on your Android phone. Then, you can select any item that you see with your preferred gesture, like circling their sunglasses, to quickly find similar, shoppable options from retailers across the web. 

For a more detailed understanding of the Circle to Search feature, you can watch the official video by Google. 
A new way to Search: Circle to Search 

Google Lens now includes AI-powered multi visual search capabilities. This means users can point their camera or upload a photo or screenshot to Lens, then ask about what they see to get answers via generative AI. 

For example, if you come across an image of a delicious corn dog with some unique toppings on social media and want to learn more, you can simply circle the corn dog and ask a question, like “Why are these so popular?”. Google Lens will then provide you with helpful information pulled together from across the web. 

Google’s new Circle to Search feature and the multi-search in Lens are significant steps towards making search more intuitive and user-friendly. These features not only enhance the Android user experience but also represent Google’s continuous efforts to connect people’s curiosity to the information they’re seeking. As we continue to explore these new features, we can look forward to an even more seamless and engaging search experience.