Google is extending its popular ‘Circle to Search’ functionality to iPhone users through its iOS applications.
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This addition empowers iPhone owners to perform visual searches directly from their screens, mirroring the experience previously available on Android devices.
Search with Google Lens on iPhone
Previously available only to Android users, Google’s Circle to Search feature is now accessible on iOS through the Google and Chrome apps.
This enhancement allows iPhone users to identify objects on their screens effortlessly.
How It Functions
Activating the feature on an iPhone is straightforward. Users can access it via the Google or Chrome apps by selecting the menu options.
Once inside the app, tapping the three-dot menu initiates a Lens search that covers the entire screen. Instead of capturing a screenshot or switching tabs, users can highlight, draw, or tap directly on the area they wish to identify.
Google then provides relevant information about the selected object seamlessly.
Enhanced AI Overviews
In addition to the Circle to Search expansion, Google is upgrading the AI Overviews within Lens search results to provide more detailed information about identified objects.
AI-Powered Insights
The enhanced AI models available in Google Lens can now recognize a broader range of objects, including those that are less common or harder to identify.
When Lens encounters an unusual item, an AI Overview appears, offering comprehensive details about the object. This overview includes descriptive information and links to related web resources, eliminating the need for additional search queries.
Users can also ask follow-up questions to refine their search results if desired.
Availability
Google is rolling out these new features to iOS users globally, ensuring that both the Google and Chrome apps are updated to support the latest enhancements.
The initial release will be available to English-speaking users in selected regions, with plans to expand support to other languages and locations shortly.
Additionally, AI Overviews will soon be accessible on Chrome for desktop and mobile platforms, broadening the feature’s reach.
The Bottom Line
With the introduction of Circle to Search on iOS and the enhanced AI Overviews, Google continues to improve its visual search capabilities across platforms.
These updates provide iPhone users with more intuitive and informative search experiences directly from their devices.