Google’s Circle to Search now uses AI Mode for follow-up queries by default, shifting from standard image search.

According to Android Authority, the change occurred with Google app version 16.47.49, meaning when users circle something on Android phones and ask follow-up questions, the feature relays queries to AI Mode.

The update transforms Circle to Search from a “point-and-see” image lookup tool into an AI-backed conversational assistant.

Since AI Mode supports multimodal inputs, strong reasoning through Gemini, and accesses Google’s entire database, users receive richer, more contextually relevant answers beyond visually similar images or links.

The follow-up search bar now appears at the bottom of the results panel for easier additional questions.

Users can circle diagrams from textbooks, receive Circle to Search responses, and ask related queries in the bottom search bar without manually copying image descriptions or switching apps.

The AI Mode integration enables effortless, deeper investigation into visual content, unifying the search experience on Android by eliminating manual switching between image and text-based search.

As the update rolls out to more Android devices, more users should gain AI Mode access in Circle to Search.

Over time, more advanced AI-based features leveraging AI Mode’s multimodal capabilities may emerge, potentially influencing how other Android ecosystem apps handle search and discovery.