Google is rolling out two significant updates to enhance your searching experience: Circle to Search and an AI-powered multisearch experience.
For more than two decades, Google has been working to improve the way people search for information online. Their mission has always been to organize the world's information and make it accessible to everyone. Over the years, Google has incorporated advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) to better understand various types of information, including text, audio, images, and videos.
As part of this ongoing evolution, Google has introduced features that make searching more natural and intuitive. Users can search using their voice or even use their camera with Lens. Recently, Google has been testing the capabilities of generative AI in understanding natural language, allowing users to ask questions more conversationally on Search.
Looking ahead to the future, Google envisions a scenario where people can search in any way and anywhere they want. In 2024, Google is introducing two significant updates to bring this vision closer to reality: Circle to Search and an AI-powered multisearch experience. Let's explore what these updates have in store.
Circle (or highlight or scribble) to Search
Google has introduced a new feature called Circle to Search, aiming to enhance the search experience on Android phones. This feature allows users to search for information on their phone screen without having to switch between apps. Using simple gestures such as circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping, users can select images, text, or videos more intuitively. This feature enables users to find the information they need directly on their screen without the need for app navigation.
The Circle to Search feature is designed to minimize disruptions when users encounter something of interest on their Android phones. Rather than interrupting their current activity to switch apps or browsers for searching, users can employ intuitive gestures like circling, highlighting, scribbling, or tapping directly on their screen. This functionality allows for seamless searching while texting, browsing social media, or watching videos. The global rollout of Circle to Search is scheduled for January 31, initially available on select premium Android smartphones, including the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
Point your camera, ask a question, get help from AI
In 2022, Google introduced multisearch in Lens, allowing users to search using both images and text. Initially ideal for refining visual queries, multisearch has now evolved with the integration of generative AI, making it even more powerful and versatile. With the latest breakthroughs, pointing the camera or uploading a photo to ask a question through the Google app will trigger the enhanced multisearch experience. This update provides AI-powered insights beyond visual matches, enabling users to ask more intricate questions about what they see and quickly access comprehensive information.
For instance, if you encounter an unfamiliar board game at a yard sale, you can capture a picture, add the question "How do you play this?" and receive an AI-powered overview consolidating relevant information from the web. This feature facilitates a quicker understanding of the game's name and rules. The AI-powered overview also offers supporting links for users who want to delve deeper and gather additional details.
To access this feature, users can simply locate the Lens camera icon in the Google app on Android or iOS. For users outside the U.S. who have opted into the Search Generative Experience (SGE), a preview of this new experience will be accessible in the Google app. Additionally, AI-powered overviews on multisearch results will be available within the Circle to Search feature.
News Source: Google
