Google Gemini May Soon Get ‘Circle to Search’ Feature: Here’s Everything We Know

Google seems to be preparing a game-changing update for its AI chatbot Gemini. If leaks and subtle hints are to be believed, the tech giant may soon introduce a “Circle to Search”-like feature inside Gemini — a move that could significantly boost how users interact with on-screen content using AI.

Let’s break down what this feature is, what it means for users, and how it could change your smartphone experience forever.

What Is ‘Circle to Search’?

A Quick Recap for the Unfamiliar

Originally launched for select Android devices, Circle to Search lets users circle or highlight any item on their screen — whether it’s text, an image, or an object — and get instant search results via Google. It eliminates the need to switch apps or take screenshots.

This feature, backed by Google Search, is now one of Android’s most appreciated tools, praised for its speed, ease, and intelligence.

Google Gemini May Be Getting a Similar Tool

A Leak Spotted in an Official Video

The news comes from Android Authority, who noticed something intriguing in a recent video shared by the official Google Gemini app Instagram account. The video was meant to highlight Gemini’s screen-sharing capabilities, which are already live — but sharp-eyed viewers spotted something else.

At the start of the video, a new feature label appeared briefly:
“Circle Search (DF)”

So, what does that mean?

What Does ‘DF’ Mean in Google Testing?

Dogfood = Internal Testing

In the tech world, DF stands for Dogfood, short for “dogfooding,” a term used when a company’s employees test features internally before public release.

This suggests that Google is actively testing a version of Circle Search inside Gemini, and the footage in the Instagram video may have been recorded by a Google employee using a Dogfood build.

How Would Gemini’s Circle Search Work?

According to the clues and analysis:

• Users could circle any part of their screen — a paragraph, an image, a menu, or even a product.
• Instead of manually taking a screenshot and uploading it to Gemini, this gesture-based input would directly feed the circled content to the AI.
• Gemini could then analyze the selected portion, answer questions, generate summaries, or even take actions — all without switching apps or capturing images manually.

This would make Gemini faster, smarter, and more integrated into daily phone usage.

Gemini Circle Search vs. Google’s Circle to Search

Will Both Features Co-Exist?

Right now, Google’s Circle to Search is tightly linked with Google Search and available on select Android devices like Pixel phones and Galaxy S24 series.

If Gemini adds a similar feature, it could mean one of two things:

1. Both features might co-exist — Circle to Search for quick facts, Gemini’s version for deeper AI-based interactions.
2. Google may merge them in the future — creating a unified, smarter visual search and interaction tool backed by AI.

At this point, there’s no public confirmation from Google about either scenario, but the possibility of integration is certainly on the table.

Why This Could Be a Big Deal

This potential Gemini upgrade isn’t just a minor convenience. It signals a major step toward fully visual, real-time AI interaction.

Here’s What It Could Change:

• No more screenshots to save content and ask questions.
• Instant AI assistance without switching screens or apps.
• More intuitive interaction, especially for non-text elements like photos, maps, buttons, or app interfaces.
• Could evolve into a universal AI overlay, where users simply point or circle anything for real-time help.

For students, professionals, and casual users alike, this could become a daily utility — especially for tasks like summarizing articles, translating foreign text, identifying objects, or getting shopping recommendations.

When Will Gemini’s Circle Feature Launch?

Still in Early Testing Phase

At the moment, this feature has not been officially announced or launched.

• The only clue is from an Instagram video — showing a Dogfood build.
• No Android build or app update currently has this feature accessible to the public.
• This means the feature is likely in the internal testing stage, and may take weeks or even months before a public rollout.

However, the fact that Google is already using it internally and showing glimpses publicly suggests that it could be closer than we think.

What Does This Mean for Google’s AI Strategy?

This development fits right into Google’s broader strategy of embedding AI into the fabric of Android and making Gemini more useful beyond a chatbot.

From AI-powered summaries in Gmail to voice assistants backed by Gemini, the company is betting big on making Gemini the central hub for smart, context-aware actions.

Adding a gesture-based interaction like Circle to Search would help Gemini compete more directly with tools like ChatGPT’s vision model, Microsoft Copilot, and Apple’s rumored AI features in iOS 18.

The Future Is Visual and AI-Powered

While we’re still waiting on an official announcement, this leak gives us a solid glimpse of what Google’s working on behind the scenes.

Gemini’s rumored Circle Search feature could:

• Save time
• Improve accessibility
• Make interacting with AI more natural and visual
• Position Gemini as more than just a chatbot — but as a true digital assistant

If rolled out properly, this update could change how Android users interact with their phones daily.

Stay tuned — the future of AI might just be a circle away.