Google Now Users Reporting “What’s Hot” and “Nearby” in Search Box

Google Now users have found that the search box upon app initialization is now displaying new options, namely the "What's Hot" and "Nearby" features. This gives users an option to search for terms that are trending, or search for things nearby their current location. It is unclear if this is enabled via an app update or a server side rollout.

source: xdadevelopers