Google introduces Circle to Search, a novel approach to online searching

Google has unveiled two new AI tools aimed at enhancing online search functionality. Android users will soon be able to highlight pictures, videos, or text on their screens using ‘Circle to Search’ to learn more about the selected details.

The tool will be first available on the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup and a few other high-end Android smartphones such as the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Another feature will allow users to query a chosen image or screenshot for information. Google used the example of asking about how to play an unfamiliar board game found at a yard sale. These advancements arrive after previous improvements like search-by-voice and the Lens tool for image recognition.

Big tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, are continually honing similar technologies, indicating an industry-wide push for greater AI utilization. Google has been testing these tools since last year, using generative AI to make search functions more intuitive and personalized.

Although the technology has recently been applied, Google believes it has only begun to explore its potential.