Google is constantly innovating to enhance its search experience, and its latest updates are a testament to this. These updates, Circle to Search and Multisearch + Gen AI, aim to transform how users interact with Google Search, making it more contextual, intuitive, and powered by the latest AI advancements. These features offer a glimpse into a future where search is seamless, relevant, and deeply integrated into every aspect of our digital lives.
Circle to Search: Seamless Contextual Search
Imagine a scenario where you’re watching a movie trailer and see a cool pair of shoes. Instead of interrupting your viewing to open a separate search app, you could simply circle the shoes on your screen and instantly get information about them. This is the promise of Google’s Circle to Search feature – bringing the power of search directly to your existing content without disrupting your flow.
Circle to Search is a revolutionary feature that leverages the power of contextual search. Instead of requiring users to manually input keywords, it allows users to select an object or image directly from their screen and obtain relevant information about it. This feature stems from the understanding that our curiosity often sparks in the midst of what we’re already doing. We may be browsing an online article, watching a video, or even scrolling through a social media feed when a particular image or object catches our attention. With Circle to Search, Google aims to cater to this natural curiosity by providing instant access to information without requiring users to switch apps or disrupt their current activity.
How it Works:
- Activate Circle to Search: You can activate the feature by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar on your Android smartphone.
- Circle the Object: Once activated, simply circle the item you’re interested in on your screen.
- Instant Information: Circle to Search will then pull up relevant information about that object, including product details, similar items, and even purchase options from online retailers.
- Seamless Return: You can easily swipe away to return to your original app or content once you’re done.
Benefits:
- Contextual and Convenient: Circle to Search eliminates the need to manually input search terms, making the experience more natural and efficient.
- Effortless Exploration: It allows users to explore their surroundings and interests without switching apps, promoting a seamless and immersive digital experience.
- Enhanced Discovery: By leveraging visual cues, users can easily discover new products, services, and information related to the objects they see on their screens.
- Integrated Purchase Options: The ability to find and purchase items without leaving the current app adds a layer of convenience to the online shopping experience.
Circle to Search will be available starting January 31, 2024, on select premium Android smartphones, including the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and the new Galaxy S24 series.
Multisearch + Gen AI: A New Era of Visual Search
Google’s Multisearch + Gen AI takes the concept of visual search to a whole new level, fusing AI capabilities with the power of imagery. It goes beyond simple image recognition, allowing users to combine visual cues with textual queries to get more nuanced and refined answers.
Imagine taking a picture of a plant you can’t identify. Instead of just searching the image, you can add a question like, "What kind of plant is this? How do I care for it?" This is where Multisearch + Gen AI shines. It combines the visual information from the image with your written query to deliver a comprehensive and insightful answer, bringing together information from across the web in a way that is both visually appealing and informative.
How it Works:
- Launch Lens: Initiate Multisearch + Gen AI through the Google app on Android or iOS by accessing the Lens feature.
- Capture the Image: Capture an image of the object you want to explore, or use an existing image from your gallery.
- Add Your Question: Type your question related to the image. This could be a request for identification, care instructions, or any other query.
- AI-Powered Insight: The feature utilizes Google’s advanced AI to analyze the image and your question, generating a comprehensive overview with relevant information from a variety of sources across the web.
Benefits:
- Enhanced Understanding: It seamlessly integrates visual and textual information, providing a deeper level of understanding for complex queries.
- Contextualized Results: By considering both the image and your question, Multisearch + Gen AI delivers results that are more relevant and tailored to your specific needs.
- Simplified Exploration: It simplifies the search process by eliminating the need to find relevant images or text separately.
- AI-Powered Insights: The feature leverages Google’s AI capabilities to provide comprehensive and insightful answers, offering a more efficient and informative way to explore information.
Multisearch + Gen AI is currently launching in English in the US for all users. It doesn’t require any enrollment in Search Labs. Users outside the US can preview this feature in the Google app by opting for Search Generative Experience (SGE) in Search Labs.
The Future of Search:
These updates represent a significant shift towards a more intuitive and seamless search experience. They highlight Google’s commitment to leveraging the power of AI to enhance user interaction and offer greater context and relevance in search results.
Circle to Search and Multisearch + Gen AI are just the tip of the iceberg. In the future, we can expect to see even more sophisticated and integrated search experiences that leverage the combined power of visual cues, AI, and contextual understanding.
This evolution of search will not only change how we find information but will also transform how we engage with the world around us. Imagine a future where our devices can automatically identify objects and provide real-time information about them, creating a seamless and enriching experience for exploration and discovery. Google’s latest updates point to a future where search is no longer limited by words, but empowered by the rich tapestry of our visual world.
