According to a report, Google Chrome may have a new search feature that works similarly to Circle to Search, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered visual search tool that Google launched in January. This feature is built into Google Lens and can be accessed through the Google Chrome beta on desktops and Chromebooks. It’s worth noting that Circle to Search recently became available on iOS devices via Shortcuts.
Drag the Google lens to search
According to a report by 9to5Google, Google has introduced a new feature called “Drag to Search” in the Chrome 127 and 128 betas for desktops and Chromebooks. This will appear as a Google Lens icon next to the bookmarks option in the address bar.
To activate the feature, users simply click on the icon and a new window will open saying, “You can use Google Lens to search for anything on this page.” A custom selection window will then appear that you can drag to search for something on the website. The user interface (UI) of this feature is similar to the Android platform with a light selection window border.
Google says a screenshot of this page will be sent to the company when a user accesses the new Google Lens feature. Gadget 360 employees were able to test the new drag-to-search feature in the beta version of Google Chrome 128 for Windows. This feature is only available in the beta version of the web browser and is therefore experimental.
The feature was apparently first leaked by X user (ex-Twitter) @Leopeva64 in a series of posts in May. At the time, users speculated that it was an AI-powered search feature similar to Circle to Search and could improve on the existing functionality of Google Lens.
More new features in Chrome
In the last few months, Google is said to have developed several new features for its web browser. According to a published report, Google Chrome on Android will soon be able to read web pages aloud in the background via a feature called “Listen to this Page.” This web browser has new actions and features to improve your browsing experience on both Android and iOS platforms.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
