Chromebook Plus getting its own Circle to Search with more actions

In addition to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, Google today announced the latest ChromeOS AI features, like “Select to search with Lens.”

All ChromeOS devices are getting what’s essentially Circle to Search, but with a different name given the availability of a trackpad. Select to search with Lens is activated by long-pressing the launcher button on Chromebooks and then highlighting what you’re interested in. This opens a Google Search panel that you can add a query to. It’s a lot like the Google Lens capabilities built-in to desktop Chrome.

On Chromebook Plus, Select to search offers an additional Text capture capability to take action on the information you’ve selected in Google Calendar and Docs, as well as quick copying and Lens shortcuts:

• “If you’re highlighting an event invite, you can click one button to have it automatically populate a Google Calendar hold with the details.” 
• “If you’re baking grandma’s favorite pie for a family gathering, you can add a digital shopping list into Google Docs straight from her handwritten recipe.”

The Quick Insert key/menu now lets you generate images. “Create image” joins emoji and GIFs, as well as other tools like quickly accessing the Clipboard, Calculator, and Turn on Caps Lock. 

In addition to summarizing selected text, Help me read now lets you “Simplify” complex topics.

Meanwhile, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 features two “exclusive” features powered by on-device machine learning on the AI NPU  (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra with 50 TOPS). Smart grouping will organize your open tabs and documents “into logical groups based on your current tasks.” 

The ChromeOS Gallery app is also getting AI editing tools that let you: Expand background, Remove background, Make sticker, and Erase. 

Buying a Chromebook Plus model still gets you 12 months of Google AI Pro, which is a $240 value. Another perk is three months of AI photo editing app Luminar. 

Google also announced that “Squid Game: Unleashed” is coming to Chromebooks (and Android tablets/foldables). The Netflix Game is optimized for keyboard and mouse input, updated controls, and graphics for the bigger screen. It will be available in the coming weeks. 

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.