Google Updates Android with New Features: Detect Scams Easily Using ‘Circle to Search’

Google has rolled out several new features for Android smartphones, enhancing security, accessibility, and cross-device functionality. Among the notable updates is the enhanced ‘Circle to Search’ feature, which now helps users detect potential scams directly from their screens. The updates will gradually become available to users over the coming weeks, including special features for Google Pixel devices.

The upgraded ‘Circle to Search’ tool allows users to check suspicious messages or prompts for potential scams. By circling any content on the screen, users receive an AI Overview, highlighting scam patterns and providing tips to stay safe. This eliminates the need to switch between apps repeatedly to verify content sources.

Android’s communication apps now include additional safety features. The Phone app introduces a ‘Call Reason’ option, allowing users to tag calls as urgent. This tag appears during the call and in the call history if the call is missed, helping prioritize important calls.

Google Messages has also added safeguards against unknown group chats. Users can now remove themselves from groups created by unknown numbers, report them, and receive alerts containing group details and safety tips. A single tap allows users to exit, block, or report suspicious groups easily.

Google Chrome now supports pinned tabs, letting users keep important pages fixed at the top. The Emoji Kitchen has added new holiday-themed stickers, and Expressive Captions now feature emotion tags like joy and sadness on supported devices.

For Pixel users, Android 16 introduces AI-powered notification summaries, grouping alerts based on importance. The Notification Organizer mutes less important notifications to reduce distractions. Parental controls have been enhanced, allowing families to manage screen time and app activity on children’s devices, now with added PIN-based security.

The December update also introduces the Connected Display feature (currently in beta), allowing Pixel phones to extend their screens to external displays. Users gain new customization options, including custom icon shapes and auto-themed app icons, enhancing both functionality and visual appeal.

With these updates, Google aims to make Android devices safer, smarter, and more user-friendly, particularly in detecting scams and managing digital interactions efficiently.