Google on Wednesday rolled out an update for iOS that lets users search what’s on their screen with a simple gesture. The new feature, available in both the Google Chrome and Google Search apps, is similar to Android’s built-in “Circle to Search” function.
At launch, iPhone users can initiate a visual search via Google Lens by drawing, highlighting, or tapping on elements on their screen. For example, if you’re reading an article and come across an image of an art piece, you can circle the image to quickly learn more about it. Likewise, if a video catches your eye, you can use Lens to find similar items.
The idea behind the update is to allow users to perform visual searches directly while browsing without having to take a screenshot or open a new tab. After highlighting or tapping, users are presented with visual matches and related results. They can then tap “Add to your search” to refine their query by color, brand, or other details, or ask follow-up questions for more information.
To access the new functionality, users should open the three-dot menu in either the Chrome or Google app and select “Search Screen with Google Lens.” In the coming months, Google plans to introduce a dedicated Lens icon in the address bar for easier access.
In addition to the visual search update, Google announced an expansion of AI Overviews. Previously, Lens searches that combined images and text featured AI Overviews at the top of the results page. Now, users will begin to see these overviews even when no additional text or questions are added to their search. For instance, snapping a picture of a car will prompt an AI Overview that provides a quick snapshot of details and links to further resources.
The update is rolling out globally on iOS this week, with plans to extend the feature to Chrome on both desktop and mobile devices soon.
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Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has agreed to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for at least $32 billion, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.
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OpenAI is urging the Trump administration to grant AI companies an exemption that would allow them to train their models on copyrighted material—a move it argues is crucial for maintaining America's leadership in artificial intelligence.
Users on social media have uncovered a controversial use case for Google’s new Gemini 2.0 Flash model, which appears capable of removing watermarks from images—often from prominent sources such as Getty Images and other major stock media providers.
The "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity" conference in Baku gathers leaders of independence movements and political prisoners' families to discuss the suppression of identity under colonial rule, global anti-colonial movements, and reparations.
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,002 people and leaving 2,300 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has completed the Seventh Review of the Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Ukraine, enabling a disbursement of about $0.4 billion, which will be allocated for budget support.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk from giving $2 million to voters ahead of the state’s Supreme Court election, calling it a violation of state election laws.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,002 people and leaving 2,300 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
A devastating overnight drone attack on Kyiv, attributed to Russian forces, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a five-year-old child, and left ten others injured.
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
The model aims to enhance Alibaba’s presence in the generative AI sector and is available as open-source.
OpenAI has asked the US government to permit AI companies to use copyrighted material for training to maintain America's leadership in AI development, as part of a proposal aligned with President Trump's upcoming "AI Action Plan."
Kim Jong Un watched tests of new AI drones and wants to increase the production
South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix said Thursday that some customers have accelerated orders in anticipation of potential U.S. tariffs on semiconductors, contributing to improved market conditions. However, the company cautioned that it remains unclear whether this trend will persist.
The "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity" conference in Baku gathers leaders of independence movements and political prisoners' families to discuss the suppression of identity under colonial rule, global anti-colonial movements, and reparations.
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,002 people and leaving 2,300 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has completed the Seventh Review of the Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Ukraine, enabling a disbursement of about $0.4 billion, which will be allocated for budget support.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk from giving $2 million to voters ahead of the state’s Supreme Court election, calling it a violation of state election laws.
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