Google has recently introduced a new feature called ‘Circle to Search’, which is set to revolutionize the way we interact with our Android devices. This feature allows users to search from anywhere on their phone using gestures.
The ‘Circle to Search’ feature is not just about circling. It’s about interacting with the text or image on the screen to initiate a search. The circling gesture is just one of the options you can use to start a search, such as when you want to identify something in a video or photo.
For instance, if you’re watching a food video featuring a Korean corn dog, you could ask “Why are these so popular?” after circling the item. The feature can also be engaged through other gestures. If you’re chatting in a messaging app about a restaurant, you could simply tap on the name of the restaurant to see more details about it.
Gesture-Based Searches
You can also swipe across a series of words to turn that string into a search. For example, if the term “thrift flip” appears when watching a YouTube Shorts video about thrifting, you can swipe across it to initiate a search.
When interested in something visual on your screen, you can circle or scribble across the item. For instance, you could circle the sunglasses a creator wore in their video or scribble on their boots to look up related items on Google without needing to switch between different apps.
The search results users will see will differ based on their query and the Google Labs products they opt into. For a simple text search, you may see traditional search results while a query that combines an image and text — or “multisearch” as Google calls it — uses generative AI.
Google believes that the ability to access search from any app will be meaningful, as users will no longer have to stop what they’re doing to start a search or take a screenshot as a reminder to search for something later.
To activate the feature, long press on the home button or navigation bar. Then, when you see something on your screen that you want to look up, draw a circle around it with your finger, and your phone will return search results.
This new feature is a testament to Google’s commitment to improving user experience and making information more accessible and interactive. It’s a step forward in the evolution of search, making it more intuitive and seamless for users.
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