Google Lens

 What is Google Lens?

Google Lens is an artificial intelligence (AI) app from Google, which was launched in 2017 as a beta version for Google Pixel device users. Since 2018, there has been a standalone Google Lens app, which is also available for iOS and Android users. The Google Lens app is available for free on the app stores.
Google Lens is capable of understanding texts in different languages or recognizing objects, for example. If you as a user take a picture or a live recording, the tool is able to recognize this and provide you with further information.

What can Google Lens detect?

Over the years, of course, the service has been expanded to provide users with great usability and user experience while using the app. The application areas of Google Lens AI are very diverse:

• Art (information about paintings or sculptures)
• Books (viewing reviews or tables of contents)
• Plants & Animals (further information about species or breeds)
• Buildings & sights (opening hours, history of buildings)
• Barcodes (product and store finder)
• Flyers, posters & announcements (the dates can be added to your Google calendar)
• Business cards (transfer of data to your phone book)
• Household goods & clothing (direct price comparison between several online shops)

How does Google Lens work?

First of all, you need the Google Lens app, of course. If you already have it installed and have a photo in your library that you would like to have more information about, open your photo library and select the corresponding image. Now you have the possibility to click on the Google Lens icon and search for information about this image.
The second option is to take a picture or a live shot directly in the Google Lens app. To do this, open the app and launch Google Assistant. Now point your camera at the object you want more information about. After you have taken the picture, click on the corresponding element on your screen (for texts you have to set a marker). The next step is to use the Voice Search. By tapping on the microphone, you can now formulate your question to Google Lens. For example: “What kind of building is this?” or “Who made this sculpture? Now you’ve arrived at your destination and you’ll receive all the information you requested in advance 😊

How important is Google Lens in e-commerce?

Especially in the online marketing and e-commerce sector, Google Lens is becoming increasingly important. The user can access further information with just a few clicks and images. So if you have an online shop, it would certainly be advisable for you to try out Google Lens yourself with your products. Since Google Lens offers the possibility to compare prices of different providers directly, you can draw first conclusions how well your products or services perform here. In this way, you can, if necessary, improve your site and optimise it with regard to voice search. In e-commerce, you should still pay attention to your visibility in the long term in order to be taken into account by artificial intelligences such as Google Lens and to be displayed in the search results.