Google has announced a new feature for iPhone 15 Pro smartphones that allows users to activate Google Lens by pressing the action button. This shortcut is an adaptation of Google’s ‘Surround to Search’ function available on Android smartphones, which enables users to search for information or make purchases by surrounding a specific element on the screen.
The release of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro smartphones, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S24, has seen Google launch new search capabilities powered by generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), including a feature called ‘Circle to Search’. This feature provides users with a convenient and efficient way to search for information, compare results or make purchases.
While Google’s ‘Surround to Search’ is not currently available on iOS devices, this new shortcut makes searching faster and easier with just the press of a button. Users interested in using the shortcut must have the Google application for iOS installed on their devices. They can download the Google Lens shortcut and set it up to work with the action button through the iOS settings menu. The shortcut can also be configured using the Back Tap Accessibility feature, allowing users to utilize it on other iPhone models that do not have an action button.
The design manager of Google Lens, Minsang Choi, shared details about this new shortcut on Twitter but since then his post has been deleted. However, this updated feature expands accessibility of google lens on ios devices providing users with an efficient way to search for information using their iPhones.