In the latest update of the Google app beta (v17.18.24), a notable transformation has taken place with the Circle to Search feature. Formerly known as “Search using your whole screen,” it has been rebranded to “Ask about screen.” This change signifies a shift towards enhancing user experience by allowing for a more comprehensive search capability.
Enhanced Contextual Searching
The revamped feature now automatically incorporates URLs, page content, and PDF data into search queries, providing users with a richer context for AI-generated results. This development addresses a common limitation of the previous version, which was confined to the visible content on the user’s screen.
Circle to Search has always been a convenient tool for Android users, enabling them to attach screenshots and generate relevant search suggestions. With the new update, the process is streamlined further. Users can expect to see a search box that now reads “Ask about screen,” accompanied by a description that emphasizes the ability to “Search with more context.” This clarification indicates that the available context—including URLs and PDFs—will be sent to Google for processing in AI Mode.
During testing, users have successfully triggered the upload of URLs and PDFs while using the “Ask about screen” feature in applications such as Google Chrome and Files by Google. This functionality may extend to additional apps in the future, broadening the scope of its utility.
The integration of URLs and PDFs into the search process allows for more contextually relevant responses, moving beyond the limitations of relying solely on visible content from screenshots. While users have had the option to achieve similar results through the Gemini overlay in Chrome and the Files app, the convenience of Circle to Search offers a simplified alternative for those who prefer quick, summarized answers from AI Mode.
This update is currently being rolled out to beta users, and if the feedback is favorable, it is anticipated that the feature will be incorporated into the stable branch in the near future.
