Google’s Circle to Search AI feature debuted earlier this year on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 family, and now you can use it even on your computer in Chrome. The feature has been made available in both ChromeOS and the Chrome browser.
There is, however, a (slight) catch. Or two. First, we’re talking about the ChromeOS 127 beta build, and the Chrome 128 beta for Windows or macOS. Second, Circle to Search isn’t actually labeled that, for whatever reason. Instead, it’s called “Search with Google Lens”.
If you are on the beta track for either ChromeOS or Chrome for Windows or macOS, you can try it. In Chrome on Windows / macOS go to the three dot menu and then select Search with Google Lens. Then you can select an area (circle it, if you will) and you’ll get instant results in a side panel. On ChromeOS, you can simply use the Google Lens icon in the address bar for the same effect. Google’s release notes for the Chrome 128 beta describe the feature quite well:
Google Lens in Chrome makes it easy to search anything you see on your screen. Search within a video you’re watching, a slide in a livestream, or an image on a webpage. Google Lens will give you answers right there, in your tab, and you can continue browsing with the new information you’ve found.
From here on it’s only a matter of weeks before Chrome 128 for Windows and macOS gets promoted to the Stable channel, and the same goes for ChromeOS 127. When that happens, everyone will get access to Circle to Search in Chrome, regardless of the name Google chooses to use for it.