Google Launches New Search Gesture Feature for iPhone Users

Google has recently introduced an innovative search gesture feature for iPhone users, enabling them to select any content on the screen for quick searches. This feature, known as Lens Screen Search, is now available in the Google app and Chrome browser for iOS, offering iPhone users a similar experience to the "circle search" available on Android devices, which is not supported on iPhones.

With this new functionality, iPhone users can perform searches within the Google app or Chrome by drawing, highlighting, or tapping on content displayed on the screen. Whether it's text, images, or videos, users no longer need to take screenshots or open new tabs to conduct searches. A common use case involves finding shopping results by using product images you like, though the capabilities of Lens extend far beyond this. It can also define words and phrases, identify locations, plants, and animals, and handle most queries that Google Search can process.

While Lens shares similarities with Android's "circle search," the latter is accessible across the entire Android device, whereas Lens is currently limited to the Google app and Chrome browser. It's worth noting that not all Android devices support "circle search," as the feature is primarily available on the latest flagship models.

To use this new feature, iPhone users must select "Search the Screen with Google Lens" from the three-dot menu in the Google app or Chrome app. Users can then employ "any natural gesture" to select the content they wish to search. Google has announced plans to add a new Lens icon to the address bar in the coming months, allowing users to access the feature more conveniently.

In addition, Google is expanding its AI overview feature to more Lens search results, meaning users may sometimes see AI-generated summaries and URL links when utilizing the image search tool. However, Google does not currently offer an option to disable the AI overview feature, which could be bothersome for some users. Although there are methods to avoid displaying large amounts of text before search results, it remains unclear whether these methods apply to Lens at this time.