Google Lens, Google’s visual search tool, is becoming an increasingly popular tool for users, with over 12 billion visual searches conducted monthly, according to a blog post by Google published on June 14, 2023 by Lou Wang, Senior Director, Product Management, Google Search.
The tool, available in the Google app for both Android and iOS, allows users to search what they see with their camera, take a picture or a screenshot, or long press an image they see while browsing, and get a range of visual results to explore.
One of the key features of Google Lens is its ability to provide information about things users see in their daily life. For instance, if a user sees a building or landmark they don’t recognize, Lens can provide information about it and provide links to learn more. Similarly, it can help users identify plants and animals they come across.
Google Lens has also introduced a new feature that allows users to search for skin conditions. Users can take a picture or upload a photo through Lens, and the tool will find visual matches to inform their search. This feature is not intended to replace professional medical advice but can serve as a starting point for research.
For those planning to travel, Google Lens can translate street signs, menus, and more into over 100 languages. Users can upload or take a picture or even point their camera at the text they want to translate, and Lens will automatically detect the written language and overlay the translation on top of it directly on the user’s phone screen.
Google Lens can also assist with homework problems. By tapping the “homework help” filter and snapping a picture, Lens will share instructions to help users learn how to solve the problem. The feature supports multiple languages and allows users to set their preferred language for search results.
For online shoppers, Google Lens can help find products that catch their eye. Users can take a screenshot and select it in Lens, and they’ll get a list of shoppable matches with links to where they can make a purchase. The tool can also find different versions of those products.
Finally, Google Lens is also integrating with Bard, Google’s experiment that allows users to collaborate with generative AI. In the coming weeks, users will be able to include images in their Bard prompts, and Lens will work behind the scenes to help Bard make sense of what’s being shown.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by “Jack Millard” via Unsplash
