Samsung has officially introduced its 2024 smartphones under the Galaxy S24 series, and the centre of attraction during the entire launch was the AI. While the devices had many cool AI features, the one that caught everyone’s attention was “Circle to Search”, powered by Google. Now, the search giant has quietly introduced this feature on its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones.
Google circle to search feature is now available
Reports on Reddit confirm that the feature is now live on both the latest Pixel devices, effective from January 31. Unlike typical updates, this seems to be a server-side change, making it appear seamlessly for users.
The big change here is leveraging generative AI for on-the-fly searches within other apps in Android. Instead of taking an image or screenshot over to the Google app, you can long-press on the home button or the navigation bar from wherever you are to initiate the search, then highlight whatever you want to know more about and modify the search using a text prompt. A card will show you more info, and then you can swipe it away when you’re done.
What sets this feature apart is its versatility – it works anywhere on the phone. Users can engage with it through various gestures, not just circles. For example, tapping a restaurant’s name in a messaging app provides more details without leaving the chat.
One practical aspect is its integration with Google Lens’ backend, supporting both text and image queries. This widens the scope for user interaction and search capabilities.
To turn off Circle to Search, go to Settings > System > Navigation mode > gear icon > Hold handle/Home to search.
Make sure to install the latest Play Store update to the Google app on your Pixel 8 and 8 Pro to get Circle to Search. It’s appearing globally, but it’s not yet fully rolled out.
The feature also simplifies looking up definitions. For instance, when watching a video and encountering an unfamiliar term like “mattoid,” a long press on the home button or navigation bar activates ‘Circle to Search,’ allowing users to learn more about that term without leaving the video.
