Google Enhances Android's Circle to Search with AI Mode and Gaming Support

Android's Circle to Search feature gets AI and gaming upgrades

Google is adding new AI features to Android's Circle to Search and Gemini Live tools. The update was announced today, alongside the launch of the next-generation Galaxy foldables, and it includes new Gemini Live capabilities for Samsung devices and integrates Google's search-centric AI Mode chatbot right into Circle to Search. AI Mode made its debut in Google Search earlier this year, allowing users to find information and web links via a Gemini-style chatbot instead of the traditional search engine experience. It isn't widely available yet -- it just launched outside the US to users in India -- but Google said that it can now be accessed using the Circle to Search tool on Pixel and Samsung phones, allowing users to search the web for something on their screen without switching apps.

Circle to Search gets a key upgrade first on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7

Among all other touchpoints, Google has been especially bullish on injecting AI into our Search experience. After first launching its AI Mode in Google search for folks in the US, the internet giant recently began rolling it out in other regions and through the Google search bar widget on Android. Now, AI Mode is being extended beyond the Google app on Android and is more easily accessible. Alongside the Galaxy Unpacked event, where Samsung is announcing its newest set of foldable phones and smartwatches, Google has announced significant changes coming to its visual search experience, particularly for Circle to Search. With this update, Google's AI Mode is now deeply embedded within Circle to Search. That means when you select a portion of the display, it will not only use reverse image search to find relevant information or look up products, but also augment the experience with AI Mode, where you can add specific queries for refined results.

Circle to Search adding AI Mode and gaming help on Android

As part of the Galaxy Fold 7 and Flip 7 launch, Google is announcing the latest Circle to Search, which is now available on 300 million Android devices, features for everyone. Google's other big update today is Gemini for Wear OS. In January, Google started answering visual queries with AI Overviews. The "latest Gemini models" now provide answers that are "better formatted and easier to read," while Google is "incorporating more visuals directly into the answers." AI Mode can now help answer questions you ask via Circle to Search and Google Lens. Responses will benefit from AI Mode's advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities, as well as the ability to ask follow-ups. Underneath the AI Overview, tap the "dive deeper in AI Mode" button. This is rolling out now in the US and India. A future Circle to Search update will let you immediately access the AI Mode text field to start asking questions. Meanwhile, you can now invoke Circle to Search when you're stuck on a level in mobile games. A floating landscape UI after selecting a part of the screen or character will show an AI Overview, as well as a carousel of YouTube gameplay/walkthrough videos timestamped to where you are in the game. This lets you see how other people beat a particular aspect. Behind-the-scenes, Search works to understand the visual still and map it back to YouTube videos. Get the tips you need without leaving your game, helping you get unstuck and keep the action going. This is rolling out to all places where Circle to Search and AI Overviews are available.

4 new AI updates on Android coming to Samsung Galaxy devices

Mindy Brooks Vice President of Product and UX for Android Platform Today at Galaxy Unpacked, we announced new updates to Google AI capabilities on Android, like Gemini and Circle to Search, that are available on Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Watch8 series. These will also be the first new devices to launch with Android 16 and Wear OS 6. Here's a look at all the updates. Since we launched Circle to Search on the Galaxy Unpacked stage last year, we've made it available on hundreds of millions of Android devices, and we've continued to add rich, new capabilities like on-screen translation and AI Overviews for more visual searches. Now, Circle to Search is about to get even more powerful with AI Mode , our most advanced AI search experience for your toughest questions. On Android, long press on the home button or navigation bar, and circle something of interest to get an AI-powered response, then ask follow-up questions to get deeper insights about what you're looking at. You'll find simple breakdowns and helpful links to keep exploring. Try it out today with our latest capability: mobile gaming help. Circle the challenge, character or item on your screen, and get an AI Overview with tips, relevant videos timestamped to your spot in the game, and links to helpful articles to learn more. When you're done, just resume gameplay right where you left off .

Dive deeper with AI Mode and get gaming help in Circle to Search

Since we introduced Circle to Search last year, people have been using it to circle, highlight, or tap on their Android devices to quickly get more information and additional AI insights from across the web, without switching apps. And now, we're excited to share that Circle to Search is available on more than 300 million Android devices. Today, we're bringing advanced new capabilities to Circle to Search, making it even easier to explore information and get quick help precisely when you need it most. We're bringing our most powerful AI search experience, AI Mode, right into Circle to Search. This means you can now access AI Mode's advanced reasoning to explore complex topics and dig into your initial searches with follow-up questions - all without switching apps.

Google's Circle to Search Adds 2 Sweet New Features

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. There's no doubt that Google's Circle to Search is one of their most useful AI tools. It's always there to help you find out more about whatever is your screen at this very moment. All it takes is the long-press of the home button and you are diving-in with every power Google has available. But what if I told you it could do more? AI Mode in Circle to Search: Today, Google announced that Circle to Search can now use its AI Mode, another of its useful AI features. First introduced in March 2025, AI Mode is a more powerful version of Google Search in that it can take a more complex query and provide a plan from its results. From there, AI Mode will let you ask follow-up questions to truly fine-tune the results into something you were looking for. It's actually pretty awesome. So anyways, AI Mode is now in Circle to Search! All that means is that you can circle something and then choose AI Mode to switch that circled item over to a more advanced AI Mode search session. As an example, I just did this with a picture on Instagram of an unreleased pair of Travis Scott Jordan 1 shoes. Once I tapped AI Mode after circling it, it brought up an entire report about the unreleased shoe, including its SKU, potential price, rumored release date, official color names, the fact that it was also a collab with Fragment Design, and where I should be able to buy it. Pretty neat. As a bit of an added bonus, Google is also introducing gaming help through Circle to Search. Now, should you get stuck in a mobile game and need help, circling a character or moment in the game could get you a tip or strategy to overcome the problem. The results might even be a quick video to help, all without ever leaving your gaming session. Both of these features are available as early as today in the US.