Google Lens is being embraced as a versatile AI‑powered visual search tool that helps users translate text, identify objects, verify product details, and gather contextual information in real time. By simply pointing a phone camera at an item or scene, the service delivers instant translations, product comparisons, and educational overviews, making it a practical companion for travel, shopping, and everyday curiosity. Users report increased confidence when navigating foreign menus, confirming rental listings, and exploring unfamiliar art, highlighting the tool’s growing role in daily digital interactions. Read more →

Google Maps is integrating Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot, into core navigation features. Users can now ask open‑ended questions, receive restaurant recommendations along a route, and have the route adjusted on the fly. Gemini also pulls data from Calendar, provides proactive traffic alerts, and powers visual cues in spoken directions using billions of Street View images and a massive place database. The system aims to deliver trusted, real‑world answers without hallucinations, offering a conversational, expert‑like experience directly within the Maps interface. Read more →

Google has upgraded Maps with its Gemini artificial‑intelligence model, letting users ask conversational questions while driving, receive landmark‑based turn directions, and use Lens to identify places. The new features let drivers request restaurant recommendations, traffic updates, and even add calendar events without touching their phones. Gemini cross‑references millions of places with Street View imagery to highlight visible landmarks in navigation cues. The rollout will begin on iOS and Android devices, with Android Auto support slated for the near future. Read more →

Google Lens is emerging as a versatile visual search tool that helps travelers translate signs, verify accommodations, identify artwork, and compare shopping options instantly with a smartphone camera. Users highlight its ability to provide on‑the‑spot translations, background checks on rental listings, detailed art information, and product price comparisons, all powered by Google’s extensive AI and shopping graph. The feature, while limited to online use, is praised for improving confidence and convenience during trips. Read more →

Google announced that its Nano Banana image‑generation technology, originally part of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, is being integrated into NotebookLM. The update adds a new ‘Brief’ video format and a suite of customizable visual styles—including Classic, Whiteboard, Watercolor, Retro Print, Heritage, Paper Craft, and Anime—allowing users to tailor AI‑generated video overviews. The features will first roll out to Google AI Pro subscribers at $20 per month, with a broader release planned for free users. Access is available through the edit (pencil) icon on the Video Overview card in NotebookLM’s Studio panel. Read more →

Google's Nano Banana AI image editor, which went viral after its launch, is being rolled out across several existing Google products. The tool now powers new visual features in NotebookLM, adds chat‑based image creation and editing in Search, and is slated to appear in Google Photos in the coming weeks. Early rollout begins with US English users and Google Pro accounts, with broader availability planned soon. Read more →

Google has expanded its Gemini‑powered AI Mode by integrating visual search features drawn from Google Lens and its Image Search technology. Users can now upload photos and ask conversational questions about the content, receiving related images, product details, and contextual information. The new system breaks images into objects, background, color and texture, runs multiple internal queries in parallel, and recombines results that best match user intent. By linking to the Google Shopping Graph, which indexes billions of products, the feature also delivers price, review and availability data for items depicted in photos. While the upgrade promises a more natural, image‑centric search experience, Google acknowledges potential misinterpretations, bias, and the risk that sites lacking optimized visuals may be underrepresented. Read more →

Google has rolled out a new AI Mode update that turns image search into a conversational experience. Users can now describe what they want in natural language, refine results with follow‑up prompts, and combine text with reference images. The feature leverages Gemini 2.5’s multimodal capabilities and integrates with Google Search, Lens, and Image Search, initially launching in English for U.S. users. Read more →

Google announced enhancements to AI Mode in Search, adding visual‑based answers that let users see images directly within the AI tab. The update builds on Google Lens technology, letting users request design inspiration, refine image results, and upload photos for search. Shopping queries now accept natural‑language descriptions, delivering retailer links without manual filters. The changes aim to keep Google competitive with AI‑driven rivals and to shift search toward intent‑based interactions while maintaining traffic quality for publishers. Read more →

Google has released Search Live, a new feature that lets users talk to an AI assistant that can also see through their phone’s camera. The tool turns traditional search into a live, back‑and‑forth conversation, allowing users to point their device at objects and ask questions like “What’s this?” The AI provides answers backed by web links and uses a technique called “query fan‑out” to broaden its results. While the feature promises more interactive and visual search experiences, it also acknowledges challenges such as lighting conditions and includes safeguards against misuse. Read more →

Amazon has introduced Lens Live, a new feature that lets iPhone users point their camera at any object and instantly see a carousel of similar products for purchase. The tool leverages artificial intelligence and is tied to Amazon’s Rufus assistant, which can answer follow‑up questions about items. Lens Live expands Amazon’s visual search capabilities, offering a direct path to buying without needing to type a description. The feature is currently available only on iOS, with no Android release date announced, and positions Amazon against rivals such as Google Lens and Pinterest’s camera tools. Read more →

Google has hidden code in the latest Android app that enables an augmented‑reality overlay of Google Maps data within Gemini Live’s camera view. The feature can display place names, ratings and other map information directly on the screen when the phone points at a street or landmark, and even offers audio responses for specific queries. Android Authority has activated the prototype, describing it as a basic but functional preview. The addition builds on Gemini Live’s existing visual‑guidance tools and could extend to smart‑glass platforms, though a public rollout timeline remains unannounced. Read more →

Google announced an experimental desktop application for Windows that lets users instantly search their computer, installed apps, Google Drive files, and the web using an Alt + Space shortcut. Modeled after macOS Spotlight, the app integrates Google Lens and an AI‑powered search mode, offering dark‑mode support and multilingual options. It is distributed through Google’s Search Labs program and currently runs on Windows 10 or later in English for U.S. users. Read more →

Google is piloting a new desktop search application for Windows that blends traditional file and web search with AI capabilities. Available through the Search Labs program, the app lets users summon a searchable bar with an Alt + Space shortcut, indexing local files, Google Drive, and the internet. Integrated Google Lens enables visual searches, image identification and text translation, while an AI Mode offers contextual answers, such as solving math problems. The app mimics macOS Spotlight, supports dark and light themes, and can be resized or moved on the screen. Currently limited to English‑speaking users in the United States on Windows 10 or newer, it requires a Google account to sign in. Read more →

Google has released an experimental desktop application for Windows that lets users search the web, Google Drive, and local files from a single floating bar. The app, currently limited to personal Google accounts, can be summoned with Alt+Space or a custom shortcut. It displays results in a compact window and can surface Knowledge Graph snippets. While the software is still in testing and may contain bugs, it offers a streamlined alternative to Windows' built‑in search and includes Google Lens for image‑based queries and translation. Read more →

Google has introduced an experimental desktop search app for Windows that brings the company’s search expertise to the PC. The app can locate installed programs, local files, Google Drive items and web results, and includes Google Lens for on‑screen identification and translation. It is launched through Google’s Search Labs program and is accessed with the Alt + Space shortcut, mirroring macOS’s Spotlight. While still limited in availability and potentially buggy, the tool aims to provide a more powerful alternative to Windows’ built‑in search and third‑party utilities such as Everything. Read more →

Amazon has introduced Lens Live, a new feature that lets iPhone users point their camera at any object and instantly see a carousel of similar products for purchase. The tool leverages artificial intelligence and is tied to Amazon’s Rufus assistant, which can answer follow‑up questions about items. Lens Live expands Amazon’s visual search capabilities, offering a direct path to buying without needing to type a description. The feature is currently available only on iOS, with no Android release date announced, and positions Amazon against rivals such as Google Lens and Pinterest’s camera tools. Read more →

Amazon has introduced Lens Live, a new feature that lets iPhone users point their camera at any object and instantly see a carousel of similar products for purchase. The tool leverages artificial intelligence and is tied to Amazon’s Rufus assistant, which can answer follow‑up questions about items. Lens Live expands Amazon’s visual search capabilities, offering a direct path to buying without needing to type a description. The feature is currently available only on iOS, with no Android release date announced, and positions Amazon against rivals such as Google Lens and Pinterest’s camera tools. Read more →

Google has hidden code in the latest Android app that enables an augmented‑reality overlay of Google Maps data within Gemini Live’s camera view. The feature can display place names, ratings and other map information directly on the screen when the phone points at a street or landmark, and even offers audio responses for specific queries. Android Authority has activated the prototype, describing it as a basic but functional preview. The addition builds on Gemini Live’s existing visual‑guidance tools and could extend to smart‑glass platforms, though a public rollout timeline remains unannounced. Read more →

Google has hidden code in the latest Android app that enables an augmented‑reality overlay of Google Maps data within Gemini Live’s camera view. The feature can display place names, ratings and other map information directly on the screen when the phone points at a street or landmark, and even offers audio responses for specific queries. Android Authority has activated the prototype, describing it as a basic but functional preview. The addition builds on Gemini Live’s existing visual‑guidance tools and could extend to smart‑glass platforms, though a public rollout timeline remains unannounced. Read more →