Google offers a new way to search

(CNN) — Google on Thursday announced two new artificial intelligence tools that it says will make searching for things online “radically more useful.”

Mobile users who access Google on some Android phones will soon be able to circle or highlight items on their smartphone screen to reveal more information, and ask complex or nuanced questions about an image or text.

Since last year, the company has been quietly testing these tools to see how generative AI, the technology behind viral chatbots like ChatGPT, can make searches more personalized and intuitive.

The features were revealed during Samsung's Unpacked event earlier this week, and will arrive in the Galaxy S24 smartphone lineup that will be launched later this month. It will also launch on a few other high-end Android smartphones, including the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, starting January 3.

The first feature, called Circle to Search, lets Android users circle, tap, highlight, or write on photos, videos, or text to get more information about what they see.

Additionally, starting Thursday, users will be able to point their mobile camera (or upload a photo or screenshot) and ask a question via the Google app to get information. Google gave the example of finding an unknown board game in a retail store and asking the tool how to play.

Over the years, Google has made changes to search, such as the ability to perform voice searches or its Lens tool, which uses image recognition technology through smartphone cameras to learn more about the world around them.

Google's commitment to artificial intelligence highlights the momentum the technology sector is witnessing in the race of large companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and others to apply similar technologies.

“We have only scratched the surface of what is possible.” It states The company in a press release.