Google is expanding Circle to Search with a substantial upgrade that shifts more of the feature’s processing to its AI Mode system. Circle to Search debuted with the Galaxy S24 Ultra as a straightforward way to highlight items on screen and look them up, relying heavily on Google’s standard image search. The new update changes how those results are delivered, integrating AI-driven summaries and contextual analysis directly into the process rather than treating AI responses as a follow-up option.
Reports indicate the update is already appearing on select Android devices running version 16.47.49 of the Google app. Users who receive it will notice that AI Mode now takes over the entire flow of a Circle to Search query, providing breakdowns, explanations, and linked sources without needing the older search bar. Google has gradually pushed AI Mode across its broader search ecosystem over the past year, so its expansion into Circle to Search continues that shift toward AI-generated overviews paired with traditional search links.
AI Mode functions similarly to other conversational search tools: it can interpret what you highlight on screen, pull related information, and present a structured explanation. With this update, it also manages follow-up questions—turning what was once a simple image lookup into a deeper, more conversational search experience. While this can make results more informative, it also means the feature’s behavior is now tied more directly to Google’s evolving AI stack, which will likely continue to change as the company refines how AI integrates across Android.
Not everyone has access to the update yet. Some devices, including models like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, still show the previous version with a traditional search field. Google appears to be rolling out the change incrementally, without a public timeline for full availability. That staggered approach mirrors other recent Circle to Search additions, such as the translation feature Google released earlier in the year that lets users translate menu items or other text with a swipe and a highlight.
The shift to AI Mode marks a broader transition in how Google wants people to interact with search on mobile devices. Instead of isolating image lookup tools from conversational results, Google is turning Circle to Search into a front-end for its wider AI search strategy—a move that could help users get more context from quick on-screen queries, though it also raises questions about consistency as these AI systems continue to evolve.
