Google has added two new search features for smartphones. Circle to Search is now available on Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 series, allowing users to easily search by circling, highlighting, or tapping on the screen. Multisearch with Lens now offers AI-powered insights beyond visual matches, allowing users to ask nuanced questions about what they observe. This feature is available in English in the U.S. and can be previewed in the Google app by users outside the U.S. and in the Search Generative Experience.
Google has added a couple of new features to search, providing users more ways to run a search on their smartphones. Google has recently listed down two new ways for users that they can use to run a search. The key highlight of the new
search features
is that they are powered by
generative AI
and provide users with the relevant information they are looking for.
Here are three new ways that you can use to run a search using Google.
Circle (or highlight or scribble) to Search
Circle to Search
feature was introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series last week. However, Google has now made the feature available to
Pixel 8
and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones as well. We also expect the feature to become available to more devices soon.
The feature lets users easily run a search with a simple gesture and by selecting images, text or video or whatever there’s on the screen. Users can circle, highlight, scribble or tap the area on the screen to find information without moving to the separate app on their phones.
Circle to Search is launching globally on select premium Android smartphones on January 31, starting with the Pixel 8, the Pixel 8 Pro and the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
Point the camera, search and get AI-based results
In 2022, Lens introduced multisearch, allowing users to search using both images and text. Initially refining visual queries, it now offers a more expansive exploration of the world. When using the Google app to ask questions via camera or uploaded images, the enhanced multisearch experience provides AI-powered insights beyond visual matches.
This enables users to ask nuanced questions about what they observe and obtain comprehensive information quickly. For instance, at a yard sale, capturing a photo of an unknown board game and asking, “How do you play this?” yields an AI-powered overview with relevant details gathered from the web. This feature is now available in English in the U.S., requiring no enrollment in Search Labs. Users outside the U.S. and those in the Search Generative Experience (SGE) can preview it in the Google app. AI-powered overviews are also accessible in Circle to Search.
English (US) ·