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.

“Simply long press the home button or navigation bar, then circle, tap, or gesture on what you want to search. When an AI response seems most helpful, an AI Overview will appear in your results,” Google said in a blog post. “From there, scroll to the bottom and tap ‘dive deeper with AI Mode’ to ask follow-up questions and explore more about your visual search.”

Circle to Search can now also provide in-game help for mobile gamers, a feature that Google was testing back in January. The feature can be used to find character and strategy information without closing the game, as well as find articles and videos that are timestamped to the same moment of the game where assistance is needed. Google said it’s also working on bringing AI Mode to Lens via the Google app for both Android and iOS devices.

The new Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Watch 8 series launched at Samsung’s Unpacked event today are the first devices to come with Android 16 and Wear OS 6 installed out of the box. Building on that relationship, Google has also announced a Gemini Live update for the Flip 7 that brings camera-sharing support to the external cover screen display, allowing the AI assistant to answer questions about what it can “see” without opening the phone.

Gemini Live integrations are now supported in Samsung apps like Samsung Calendar, Notes, and Reminders, with Google saying that support for apps made by other device makers will follow. Lastly, Gemini is starting to roll out to smartwatches running Wear OS 6, including Pixel, OnePlus, OPPO, and Xiaomi devices, and Samsung’s new Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and Watch Ultra (2025) models.