Google launches new way to search using video

Google has released a feature allowing users to search the internet by taking a video. 

Much like Google Lens, video search will allow people to point their camera at something, ask questions about it out loud, and then get search results based on what they’ve asked. 

In order for users to access this new feature-from-the-future, they’ll have to enable ‘AI Overviews’ in their Google App. And, good news, it’s available for both iPhone and Android users, so no one who wants to give it a go is getting left out! 

With the nature of search growing and evolving all the time, it’s a way for Google to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to make search even more convenient. It could also be seen as a bit of a response to OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, who earlier in the year announced they would be testing the ability so search the web by asking ChatGPT questions.

Google’s previous attempt at leveraging AI

Back in May, Google drew criticism from far and wide for introducing AI-generated results at the top of searches. Some of the answers it was providing were erratic, inaccurate, and on some occasions just plain daft, with one search recommending the user fix cheese to their pizza with glue.

Over the last few months these results have appeared to improve, and offered much better results.

How does it work?

Google claim it will enable people to ask questions about the world around them with greater ease. And head of search, Liz Reid, gave the example of an aquarium. 

If someone is curious about why a group of fish are swimming close together, they can take a short video and ask the question. Google’s AI will then get to work identifying the fish and mixing those results with the question to give the user the answer they’re seeking. 

Very clever stuff, and it will be interesting to see where search goes next.

Original article can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93pdw7y12no

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