I didn’t anticipate Google Lens to become one of my daily instruments of choice. I’ve used the platform primarily, almost daily, to detect shells I find while walking on the beach or to translate the packaging on items I buy at my neighborhood Asian market. However, I recently discovered it useful on a few trips to find solutions to real-world traveling issues, such as recognizing unusual weather and finding dubious vacation rentals.  ,
Google recently made new methods for guests to use Lens ‘ Physical Search functions this summer and beyond. Dounia Berrada, top director of engineering for Google Lens, contacted me to find out more about how the team is attempting to make the cameras a more brilliant seek support and go friend.
Given that most of the features can’t be used in online style, Google Lens has a some restrictions. Even so, it might be the most innovative completely app available on your telephone.
” Everyone is aware of the word and voice-based questioning process. You can also ask questions using graphics with Google Lens, according to Berrada.
Observe how I use Google Maps to avoid stress-free journey and the six Google AI and Lens capabilities I’m using to organize my travels for more Facebook functions.  ,
How can you apply Google Lens while traveling?
Translate selections and signs directly into English
Instant language is one of Lens ‘ biggest advantages when traveling. When I visit Caribbean restaurants here in Florida or my favorite Eastern markets and require assistance reading the container, I use this feature at least once per week.
I just keep up my phone and tap the Lens icon in the Google Play Store, and the text on the screen instantly changes to English. Instead of appearing as a pop-up, the words simply appears above whatever I need to adapt.  ,
This function can assist with translating street signs, public transportation maps, and entrees during travel.  ,
Verify holiday rentals before making a reservation
Since I’ve often wanted to travel to Costa Rica, I recently was looking through Airbnbs there. I came across a sneezingly underpriced rented, so I used Lens to change picture search the listing photos. Turns out, the exact images were displayed on a foreign country house website. That raised the possibility that I would run ahead and consider Costa Rica once more.
Berrada explained to me that Lens wasn’t specifically designed to deter scammers, but that providing people with more physical environment before making lodging choices is a big part of the product’s goal. It’s simple for me to perform quick background checks, making it easier for me to trust where I’m staying, and I’ll definitely use it whenever something goes wrong.
Ask questions about your observations.
Have you ever found yourself completely fascinated by a artwork in a gallery but having no idea what you’re looking at? Only a few days ago, I was standing in front of a bizarre element at the Dal Museum in St. Petersburg. That was me. Yet though I was an undergraduate student writing an 80-page dissertation on realism, I am still not an expert in art history. However, when I was examining the peculiar and unsettling Daddy Longlegs of the Night Hope artwork, I was wishing I had one.  ,
When I pointed my camera’s camera at the artwork and requested that it tell me more about the work of art, Google Lens was good. I received an AI Overview that broke down important details, such as who made it ( I knew this ), when it was made, and what materials were used ( given to me by the plaque next to the painting ), but it was also more intriguing, why it matters, and a breakdown of what the imagery is likely to represent. Finally, to my surprise, offered links to websites where I could go further.  ,
This feature enables you to interpret what you are seeing in real time. Additionally, it makes it possible to ask a question while taking a picture loudly. It’s kind of like asking a friend,” Rush, what is this?” and receiving a response right away.
Use the About this photo feature to dig in in a deeper way.
I recently took a picture of some ridiculous skies that appeared to be about a thick, flowing cover covering the entire sky when I was visiting my older girl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  ,
I was able to identify what I was really looking at using Google Lens’s About this picture have. It explained to me how the image ( and others like it ) were being used on the internet, including fact-checking sites, wind blogs, social media platforms, and fact-checking websites, and taught me that these are undulatus clouds, which appear as” cloud streets” because they appear as horizontal bands or rows.  ,
This device provides fast context and helps you understand what various sources are saying, whether you come across strange images online or in person.
Organize and convert words from a photograph
You never know what kind of language will need to be translated when you’re traveling, such as information from an Airbnb host or written menus, signs, gallery displays, or other items. With Google Lens, you can take a picture of any language and find a summary right away, ask concerns about it, or copy it to your folder. The feature may also edit the image, so you won’t have to struggle translating when you highlight dishes on a menu that go with your dietary needs.  ,
I can picture using it to quickly compile a written-out transit schedule for a remote train station or to quickly locate vegetarian dishes on the local menu. Berrada claimed she has personally used this have to convert recipe cards her mother gave her in French so she can discuss the English language with her father.
It’s a useful tool to make the new feel a little more reasonable, whether you’re trying to navigate a new city or trying to decipher a notice left by your Airbnb host.
Getting travel-related information right away when traveling ,
Imagine that you stumble across a tote bag made of cloth, a pair of sunglasses, or a piece of vintage clothes while browsing a Lisbon boutique or street market. With Google Lens, you can jump a quick picture and immediately access product details, such as prices at different retailers, current deals, customer reviews, and shipping information if you want to send it back home. It’s simple to determine whether the purchase is worthwhile right away or whether it’s worthwhile to wait to wait until later.  ,
Lens can tell you whether similar items are in stock elsewhere nearby or online, whether the price is reasonable, and what other shoppers or travelers have said about them even in a store. It eliminates the guesswork from impulse purchases, especially when you’re on the go.
This is my absolute favorite lens use case. I enjoy going there to shop,” Berrada said.
Berrada explained that the tool taps into a massive shopping graph with more than 50 billion listings that are constantly updated and derived from both online and offline stores. Then, so you can compare the options before making a purchase, it then displays the exact product you’re looking at, along with the best prices that are currently on offer. If you’re not determined to purchase that particular item, Lens also offers visually similar substitutes and goods with comparable features, such as lightweight materials or increased durability.
She also shared a personal story from a recent trip to Paris, where she used Lens to scan clothing she found in a store. Taking into account currency variations and the availability of local brands, the feature helped her decide whether to purchase the item locally or wait until returning home.  ,
See our traveler’s preparation checklist for more information and how to increase your chances of not having your flight delayed or canceled.