The launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 is today’s opportunity for Google to unveil two improved search technologies. The first is a brand new function which must be integrated within the Android ROM itself, called Circle. The principle is simple in appearance: in any app, especially social networks with a lot of images or videos, activating Circle invokes an interface which allows you to surround/select/highlight an interesting element.
Once the selection is made, the reverse image search starts automatically. Enough to identify, in one of Google’s examples, the glasses worn by a dog and thus buy them for your furry friend.
As far as implementation is concerned, the function must therefore be integrated into navigation systems. Whether you have configured your smartphone with the three-button navigation system or via gestures, Circle can always be called up. In the first case, a short press on the middle key (O, home) brings up the search interface; in the second case, you must quickly press the bottom of the screen.
Google is also adding a Multisearch generative AI component to Lens, its image search application. Once a subject has been captured (a plant, for example), the search field allows you to ask a question relating to it. For example, “how should you water this plant”. The request is analyzed by Google servers, which have internally validated sources, which will be processed by generative AI bricks to not simply point to a page, but write a precise response.
In this regard, the Google people we contacted explain that this function is external to Bard, Google’s conversational agent and competitor to Chat GPT.
Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 (and Americans) served first
These two functions will first arrive in the Galaxy S24 that Samsung is announcing today, as well as Google’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro via a software update. The 1000 € question is when your Android terminal will also be able to benefit from these search tools. If you are tech-savvy, the answer will not necessarily please you: you will have to wait.
The first population to benefit from these functions will indeed be from across the Atlantic. Questioned by numerous international journalists, Google representatives kicked in, contenting themselves with a “later”, probably for reasons of supporting different languages. In the case of Europe, product manager Alistair Pott even added that “in the case of Europe, it will be necessary [qu’ils] take into account very strict EU laws”. We might be tempted to conclude that there is a European handicap; on the contrary, we must see it as an additional degree of data protection. From there to affirming that Google will put in place safeguards in Europe, from which citizens of other countries will not benefit, there is only one step… which we are happily taking!
Then comes the question of compatibility of terminals from other brands of smartphones. Asked by The Digitals on the prerequisite in terms of chip power, Alistair Pott once again kicked in, ensuring that the “will [de Google] is to offer this technology to the greatest number of users”. We regret here that Google did not deign to explain a little more the implementation of its technology and any required characteristics (CPU, GPU or NPU power, chip generation, etc.). The firm is undoubtedly cautious, not knowing what the desire of its partners, particularly Chinese (Xiaomi, Honor, etc.), is to integrate these functions “free of charge” into software updates for old terminals.
One thing seems certain: at the time of writing, European Galaxy S24 buyers are unlikely to benefit from Circle and Lens with Multisearch at the time of purchase. We will therefore have to wait for Google’s teams to comply with European laws to use data to benefit from it on Samsung’s flagships and the Pixel 8/8 Pro.