AI-Powered Search Tools: Google Lens Now Supports Video and Voice

Google's latest AI upgrades offer seamless integration of voice and video into search, improving user experience across devices.

By Christopher White
Image: Firmbee.com / Reproduction / Disclosure
Image: Firmbee.com / Reproduction / Disclosure
  • Google Lens now lets you search using voice commands and videos.
  • AI-powered music search allows identifying songs from videos with a simple tap.
  • Shopping with Lens is enhanced with AI, showing prices, reviews, and stores in one snapshot.
The Essentials

Google’s master plan to sneak AI into every corner of search just got a bit more interesting. No matter how you like to find info—text, voice, or visuals—they’ve got you covered.

Just recently, Google’s been playing with how you deal with Gmail. Those summary cards you might have noticed? They’ve gotten an upgrade. Now, in their ongoing AI campaign, they’re leveling up how we interact with Google search.

According to a press release shot over to Lifewire, this move packs AI into tools like Search and Lens to make them feel smoother and smarter. They’re shooting for a seamless experience, where text, images, and voice all magically come together.

Song Stuck in Your Head? Let Google Do the Work

You’ve probably heard of that nifty Circle to Search feature. Yeah, the one where you draw a circle on the screen to search for something. Well, they’ve kicked it up a notch. Now, it works with music. Catch a song while scrolling through a random video? Long-press the home button or the navigation bar, tap the music icon, and voila—Google tells you the song and artist. As a bonus, you can open the YouTube video right on the spot.

Your Search Results? Now in Tidy Categories

Google’s AI isn’t just for identifying tunes. It’s now sorting your search results into clean categories. Take recipes, for instance. Instead of the usual mess of links, you get a tidy set of grouped options to zero in on what you want. So far, this only works for food-related searches, but let’s be real—that’s probably what you were Googling anyway.

In today’s update, Google announced a fresh voice command for Google Lens. Now, instead of typing, just point your camera at something and ask your question. Snap a picture while holding the shutter, and Google does the rest. Currently, it’s limited to mobile queries in English, but you can already imagine the possibilities.

Shopping Just Got Lazier (and Smarter)

If you’re out and about and spot a pair of shoes that scream “buy me”, Google Lens is here to help. AI identifies the item and, using Google’s Shopping Graph, hands you details like prices, reviews, and stores that stock it. With everything in one place, you can compare options without the hassle of opening a million tabs.

Video Search: The New Lens Trick

This one’s still in the experimental phase (thanks to Search Labs), but you can now search using videos in Google Lens. Let’s say you’re lost for words. Record a quick clip, mumble whatever questions pop into your head, and Google’s AI will pick out the relevant parts. It’s like having a personal assistant that doesn’t judge your terrible phrasing.

Give these features a spin. They might not be magic, but they’ll sure make it feel like it.

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