YouTube Shorts Integrates Google Lens for Enhanced Visual Search Experience

YouTube will soon let viewers use Google Lens to search what they see while watching Shorts | TechCrunch

YouTube announced on Thursday that it's bringing Google Lens to YouTube Shorts in the coming weeks. With this integration, viewers will soon be able to use Google Lens to search what they see while watching Shorts. For example, if you're watching a Short filmed in a location that you're interested in visiting, you can select a landmark and ask Lens to identify it. From there, you would be able to learn more about the destination's culture and history. By integrating Lens into Shorts, YouTube is working to enhance visual search capabilities and give users more ways to discover and search for content in an intuitive and interactive way. It makes sense for the company to enhance search capabilities for YouTube Shorts viewers by leveraging Google Lens, especially since TikTok and Instagram Reels don't offer similar functionality. Once the functionality rolls out, users will be able to try it out by pausing a Short and then selecting the "Lens" option in the top menu. Then, they will need to need to either draw, highlight, or tap on something they want to search. Lens will then provide visual matches and search results overlaid on the Short. Once you're done with the Short, you can jump back into the content that you were watching. Users won't see ads in search results during the beta phase of Lens in Shorts, YouTube says. The Google-owned company also notes that Lens in Shorts isn't available for Shorts with YouTube Shopping affiliate links or with paid product promotions. YouTube is starting to roll out the beta to all viewers this week. Today's announcement comes as YouTube has been building out Shorts with added capabilities to take on TikTok and Instagram Reels. In April, YouTube announced new upcoming features that are designed to help creators publish engaging short-form videos. Creators will get access to an improved video editor, the ability to generate AI stickers, a feature that syncs content to the beat of a song, enhanced templates, and more.

This new YouTube Shorts feature lets you circle to search videos more easily

Now in beta, the new feature allows you to pull up detailed information in a video without leaving the YouTube app. Google Lens is now coming to YouTube Shorts, making it possible to quickly retrieve detailed information about particular visual elements within a video. According to YouTube, users can expect the new integration in beta in the coming weeks. Say you're watching a Short on the YouTube mobile app, and you notice a plant you'd love to bring home to your apartment. You will now be able to pause the video by tapping the screen, select "Lens" from the menu at the top of the screen, draw a circle around the plant, and Google will pull up relevant links and images. Or you might simply tap on an image of a famous landmark to retrieve information about the city in which it's located. Also: How to download YouTube videos for free - 2 ways, including my favorite Rather than being pulled away from the YouTube app to a separate Google search page, Lens results will appear directly over the Short; from there, you can easily return to watching the video. According to YouTube's website, this feature will not use biometric data, meaning you won't be able to pull up web results for the vast majority of people who appear in a Short. The company also noted, however, that it's "possible" that Lens may be able to pull up information about notable public figures. During this early testing phase, users will not see any ads in search results. The feature will also not initially be available for YouTube Shorts with affiliate Shopping links or paid product promotions. First launched in 2017, Google Lens leverages machine learning to analyze and identify content within images. It was later integrated with Google Photos and, more recently, with Gemini, the company's flagship AI chatbot. Also: 7 ways I use Google Lens every day - and why it's one of my favorite AI apps Early last year, the company unveiled its "Circle to Search" feature for Google Lens, which allows users to circle objects within images to pull up relevant search results. This is a core component of the new integration between YouTube Shorts and Google Lens, and both innovations are part of Google's broader strategy to make it easier to retrieve information in a way that feels seamless and doesn't require the use of multiple apps.

This new YouTube Shorts feature lets you more easily circle to search videos

Now in beta, the new feature allows you to pull up detailed information in a video without leaving the YouTube app. Google Lens is now coming to YouTube Shorts, making it possible to quickly retrieve detailed information about particular visual elements within a video. According to YouTube, users can expect the new integration in beta in the coming weeks. Say you're watching a Short on the YouTube mobile app, and you notice a plant you'd love to bring home to your apartment. You will now be able to pause the video by tapping the screen, select "Lens" from the menu at the top of the screen, draw a circle around the plant, and Google will pull up relevant links and images. Or you might simply tap on an image of a famous landmark to retrieve information about the city in which it's located. Also: How to download YouTube videos for free - 2 ways, including my favorite Rather than being pulled away from the YouTube app to a separate Google search page, Lens results will appear directly over the Short; from there, you can easily return to watching the video. According to YouTube's website, this feature will not use biometric data, meaning you won't be able to pull up web results for the vast majority of people who appear in a Short. The company also noted, however, that it's "possible" that Lens may be able to pull up information about notable public figures. During this early testing phase, users will not see any ads in search results. The feature will also not initially be available for YouTube Shorts with affiliate Shopping links or paid product promotions. First launched in 2017, Google Lens leverages machine learning to analyze and identify content within images. It was later integrated with Google Photos and, more recently, with Gemini, the company's flagship AI chatbot. Also: 7 ways I use Google Lens every day - and why it's one of my favorite AI apps Early last year, the company unveiled its "Circle to Search" feature for Google Lens, which allows users to circle objects within images to pull up relevant search results. This is a core component of the new integration between YouTube Shorts and Google Lens, and both innovations are part of Google's broader strategy to make it easier to retrieve information in a way that feels seamless and doesn't require the use of multiple apps.

YouTube Shorts are about to get some Google Lens magic

Ads in search results will likely be a part of the experience when it rolls out widely to all users. Shorts is one of YouTube's most important and fastest-growing categories right now. The company is constantly adding more features to the format, and another one coming in the next few weeks will bring some Google Lens magic to YouTube Shorts. According to a recent community post by Google, YouTube Shorts will soon gain Google Lens integration. You'll be able to use Lens to search for what you're watching in a Short. For instance, if you're watching a YouTube Short filmed at a location you would like to visit, you can fire up Lens, select a landmark in the Short, and get search results for it. To try out the feature once it's live, you'll have to pause the Short you're watching by tapping on the screen and selecting Lens from the top menu. You can then draw, highlight, or tap on anything you're watching to search via Google Lens. If you're wondering why this sounds familiar, it's because the feature overlaps with Circle to Search, an AI tool we're sure you've heard of already, and one that many Android phones, including Pixels and Samsung Galaxy devices, promote in abundance. The only difference between Lens in YouTube Shorts and Circle to Search might be the UI of how those search results are displayed. Google writes, "You'll see visual matches and search results overlaid on the Short, and from there, you can easily and quickly jump back into the content you were watching." Unfortunately, the company didn't show an example of what this would look like in its post, but we're sure we'll get to see it soon enough. Lens integration in YouTube Shorts will start rolling out to the beta version of the app this week. Google notes viewers won't see ads in the search results during the Lens in Shorts beta phase. That means ads will likely be a part of the experience when it rolls out widely to all users.

Your YouTube Shorts Just Got Lensed

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Google Lens is coming to YouTube Shorts in beta. Funny enough, YouTube frames it as a way to learn more about locations and cultures where videos were shot, but we're all quite certain that isn't the ultimate drive here, right? Google Lens is a great way for consumers to identify products, with Google able to deliver information on essentially any product in the world and provide you with a link to purchase said product. Before this, users could Circle to Search these YouTube Shorts videos and complete the same task, but now Lens is getting built into the service, so identifying and learning more about whatever it is you're interested in should be easy. Google explains that while this feature is in beta, users will not see ads in search results. Additionally, the Lens experience isn't available for Shorts with YouTube Shopping affiliate links or with paid product promotions, just in case anyone was wondering. Depending on the search, AI Overviews might also be present when you use Google Lens, which have essentially taken over Google Search results. This feature is rolling out in beta this week, so be on the lookout for it.