It's not just foldables today, as Google gets into the news mix with some new features for Circle to Search and Gaming and make your watch even smarter.
Sure, Samsung's new foldable lineup grabbed the headlines today, but Google wasn't about to let Galaxy Unpacked have all the fun. While everyone was obsessing over hinge mechanisms and crease improvements, Google shared the stage for some some genuinely exciting Android updates that'll impact more than just Samsung users, as they'll be rolling out for all phones.
Here's the thing about Circle to Search - it started as one of those "cool but will I actually use it?" features. Well, Google just made it a lot harder to ignore. The integration of AI Mode directly into Circle to Search is honestly pretty clever. No more app switching when you want to dig deeper into something you've circled.
The process is beautifully simple: long press your home button, circle what caught your eye, and when you see that AI Overview pop up, just scroll down and tap "dive deeper with AI Mode." Suddenly you're in full conversation mode with Google's most advanced AI, all without leaving your current app. It's giving me major "this is how mobile search should work" vibes.
But here's what's really interesting - Google's making this available through Lens in the Google app too, covering both Android and iOS. Smart move, especially since they're clearly positioning this as the future of visual search. You can give this a try if you're a user in the U.S. and India, where AI Mode is available.
The gaming integration feels like Google finally understanding how people actually use their phones. Getting stuck in a mobile game and needing to google "how to beat level 47" is such a universal experience. Now you can just circle that boss character that's been destroying you and get tips without alt-tabbing out of your flow state. It's available in the countries where AI Overviews are available.
Meanwhile, Pixel Watch users are getting Gemini directly on their wrists. This feels like Google's answer to the Apple Watch's Siri integration, but potentially more useful given how much more conversational Gemini tends to be compared to traditional voice assistants.
The real question is battery life. Wear OS has always been... let's call it "power-hungry," and adding AI processing to the mix could be interesting. Google's keeping quiet on the technical details for now, which makes me slightly skeptical about real-world performance.
This one's clever positioning. Pixel 9 Pro buyers get a full year of Google AI Pro subscription, which includes access to Veo 3 - Google's AI video generation tool. Describe an idea, watch it become a short video with natural audio. It's the kind of feature that sounds amazing in demos but we'll need to see how it performs with real-world prompts.
The cynic in me wonders if this is Google's way of getting people hooked on AI Pro subscriptions before the free year expires. But hey, if the tool actually delivers, that's a win-win.
What's really happening here is Google making AI feel less like a separate thing you have to think about using and more like it's just... there when you need it. Circle to Search becoming smarter, Wear OS getting conversational, video creation becoming as simple as typing a sentence.
As part of their news today Google shared that over 300 million Android devices are able to use Circle to Search - a number worth noting. Google's not just announcing features for future phones - they're upgrading the Android experience for hundreds of millions of existing users.
Samsung's foldables are impressive engineering, don't get me wrong. But Google's updates today will probably impact more daily Android experiences than any hinge innovation. Sometimes the most exciting announcements are the ones that make existing devices better, not just the shiny new hardware.
These features are rolling out starting today, with availability varying by region and device.
