On Wednesday, Google introduced Circle in Search, a gesture-based way to quickly find information without leaving the app. Starting in late January, the feature will be exclusive to the new Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 / Pixel 8 Pro (at least initially).
Google positions Circle to Search as “a new way to search for anything on your Android phone without switching apps.” You can activate this feature by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar. Then circle something on the screen with your finger and see the results pop up at the bottom. To get back to what you were doing, “just swipe and you’re back where you started,” Cathy Edwards, Google’s vice president of search, wrote in a company blog post.
Despite its name, Circle Search isn’t limited to circles. “With a simple gesture, you can select an image, text, or video in any way that comes naturally to you—such as circling, highlighting, doodling, or clicking,” wrote Elizabeth Reid, vice president of search at Google. . ”
Circle to Search also works with multisearch, the text/image search feature Google launched in the Google app in 2022. The company suggested circling a corn dog in a viral social post and asking, “Why are these so popular?” (“You’ll quickly learn that these sweet and savory treats are Korean corn dogs,” Google explains . ) This feature works with anything on the screen, including products, other items, or text in videos.
In more hardware-agnostic news, the company is injecting generative artificial intelligence into Lens multi-search within the Google app. The company says this allows you to ask “more complex or nuanced questions.” It offers the example of seeing a mysterious and unlabeled board game at a garage sale, taking a photo and asking Google Lens, “How do you play this?”
Google says the feature will provide a generative overview powered by artificial intelligence, using the most relevant information from around the web. Results will include support links that allow you to search the web for more detailed information.
This week, an overview of AI-powered multiple searches is available in the US version of the Google app for Android and iOS (English only). The feature is open to anyone who meets the criteria—no need to opt into the beta. Meanwhile, Circle to Search will launch on January 31 for “selected premium Android smartphones,” starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.
This article originally appeared on Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/galaxy-s24-and-pixel-8-owners-can-soon-search-for-anything-by-drawing-a-circle-around-it -180029757.html?src=rss
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