Google launches new ways to search in 2024 with “circle to search”

For more than two decades, Google has continually changed what a search engine can do. Now, this has gone hand in hand with continuous advancements in AI, which helps to better understand information in its many forms, be it text, audio, images or videos.

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At the beginning of 2024, the technology firm presents two important updates that bring this vision to reality: Search with a circle in Google and a new AI-powered multi-search experience.

Circle (underline or scribble) to search

Today, Circle to Search is released on Google, a new way to search for anything on the screen of your Android phone, without changing applications. With a simple motion, you can now select images, text or videos more intuitively (such as circle, highlight, doodle or tap) and find the information everyone needs wherever they are.

When something piques our interest, it can be annoying to stop what we are doing and use another application or browser to start searching for information. But now, whether texting friends, browsing social media, or watching a video, it’s possible to search for what’s on the screen when curiosity about something arises.

For example, if you need to identify some of the clothes a content creator wore in their “look of the day” video but didn’t tag the brands, simply pressing and holding the home button or navigation bar on your Android phone will activate Circle. to Search. From there, by selecting any item with the preference gesture, such as circling your sunglasses, you can quickly find similar options that can be purchased on the web.

Google.

It will also be possible to ask more complex questions about what is on the screen. For example, you are browsing social networks and an image appears of some Korean flags (also known as “Corn Dogs”) with some unique toppings, which have gone viral and you are curious to know more. Simply marking the dish and asking “Why are they so popular?” will give you more information.

On the other hand, when watching a video on an unknown topic such as “selling used items” on YouTube Shorts, you can quickly mark the text “second-hand items” and you will be able to know that it is a process of purchasing used products in a store, which can then be fixed up and resold for a profit. Once the search is finished, you can easily close it and continue watching the video.

Circle to Search will launch on January 31 globally on select high-end Android smartphones, starting with the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and the new Galaxy S24 series. And as we’ve shared, Search and Shopping ads will continue to appear in specific ad slots across the results page in this new experience.

Point the camera, ask a question and get help from AI

Additionally, starting today, when you point the camera and ask a question using the app Google, the new multi-search experience will display results with AI-powered insights that go beyond visual matches. This provides the ability to ask more complex or nuanced questions about what you see and quickly find and understand key information.

It also presented new features for online shopping.

For example, if we imagine ourselves at a garage sale and find an unknown board game. There is no box or instructions, questions immediately arise like: what is this game and how to play? This is where the new multi-search experience can help.

Simply take a photo of the game, add a question (“How do you play this?”), and you’ll get an AI-powered overview that brings together the most relevant information from around the web. This way, you can quickly see what the game is called and how it is played. Plus with the AI ​​overview, it’s easy to dig deeper with support links and get more details.

This new feature launches this week in English in the US, with no need to register with Search Labs. To get started, simply look for the Lens camera icon in the Lens app. Google for Android or iOS. Those outside the US who have activated SGE can preview this new experience in the Google app. They will also be able to access AI-powered summaries of multiple search results within Circle to Search.

Continue boldly experimenting with generative AI in Search

This week’s launch of AI-powered insights for multi-search is the result of testing Google began last year to see how AI can make search much more useful, with the Generative Search Experience. in English SGE) in Search Labs. We received a lot of valuable feedback from people who decided to join this experiment and we will continue to offer SGE in Labs as a testing platform for new and innovative ideas.

These updates will make the Finder even more natural and intuitive. To try out these latest features, you need to sign up for Search Labs (where available) and activate the SGE experiment.

Source: Elcomercio