Google’s AI-Powered Circle To Search Can Translate Menus For You Now: Here’s How

Google is adding new AI tools for its smartphone users and most of the tech has been offered with the Circle to Search feature which is limited to select phones for now. But Google is increasing the functionality of this AI tech with the ability to translate PDF files and menus with a single tap.

As the name suggests, you can circle over an image, text or product to get the search results. The same feature now allows you to translate on-the-go and it is quite easy to use.

Circle To Search For Translate On Android: How It Works

To enable Circle to Search, you need the compatible Android phones, which currently includes the Pixel phones and the Samsung Galaxy S23 and 24 models. If you get the Samsung phone, you can do this drawing using the S Pen that comes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra model. In addition to the circling, you can also highlight text, or even scribble on items you want to search.

If you have any of these phones, you can do the following:

– You have to long-press the home button at the bottom of the screen

– You will see the Google Search bar with the mic, Lens and Translate icon

– Tap on the Translate button to get the language preferences

– Google will automatically detect the original language in the text

– But users can manually select the language they want to translate

– Google allows you to translate into hundreds of available languages

– You will see the final translated text on the screen

So, the next time you plan to travel and struggle with food menus in other languages, Circle to Search can rescue you from the hard task. The other benefit of Circle to search is that you can also use it for highlighting and copying text to a clipboard.

It is interesting that Google is bringing more use cases to the feature but it will only really help people if the tech is available to a wider range of audience. Samsung has reportedly shared a timeline which might leave many of you disappointed. As revealed by Samsung Netherlands recently, Circle to Search could come to other Android devices this year but only after October 5, 2024 which probably coincides with the launch of the Google Pixel 9 series this year.