Google Lens now live on all Android phones through Photos

Google’s funky new camera party trick, Google Lens, is now available on all Android phones with the Google Photos app installed.

Google Lens, which uses AI smarts to recognise features within photographs, was previously exclusive to Google’s own Pixel devices.

“Rolling out today, Android users can try Google Lens to do things like create a contact from a business card or get more info about a famous landmark,” Google Photos tweeted.

Rolling out today, Android users can try Google Lens to do things like create a contact from a business card or get more info about a famous landmark. To start, make sure you have the latest version of the Google Photos app for Android: https://t.co/KCChxQG6Qm
Coming soon to iOS pic.twitter.com/FmX1ipvN62

— Google Photos (@googlephotos) March 5, 2018

Lens can also identify books (retrieving reviews and other info), and paintings in museums.

Users can access Lens by tapping on a photo in Google Photos, tapping the Google Lens icon, and following the prompts if the service can indeed identify anything noteworthy within it.

While it’s definitely a nifty feature, Lens is extremely limited in use cases. Still, it’s a fun demonstration of smart features we’ll likely see in more smartphones in the future. Both Samsung (with Bixby Vision) and LG (with QLens) are well on their way to developing similar solutions.

Google hasn’t specified when Lens will make it to iOS, but it is reportedly “coming soon”.

Feature image: Google Photos via Google Play Store