If you thought your smartphone couldn’t possibly get any smarter, one of Google’s newest technologies, Google Lens, may change your mind. This new smartphone feature is changing the way people explore new objects around them. Although, with this product being fairly new, there is still a lot to learn about the ins and outs of this new and fascinating technology. Here’s everything you need to know about Google Lens:
What is Google Lens?
As the name states, Google Lens utilizes the camera lens on your smartphone to teach you more about the objects around you. Some of these include: animals, landmarks, barcodes, and even business cards, which can add the provided contact information to your device by simply pointing the camera. The technology analyzes similarities in images within their database to define each photo. Google Lens began as a software that was only available on Google smartphones, but has since expanded to both Android and iPhone, so there’s a good chance it’s available on your current device through the Google Photos app. Also, be sure to check out this article on the best five uses for Google Lens.
The Accuracy of Google Lens
With any innovative software such as this one, there are bound to be inaccuracies in the mix. User error as well as having a database big enough to hold every possible photograph isn’t entirely realistic. Despite this, Google Lens actually holds a pretty good track record for accuracy on certain objects. According to researchgate.net, Google Lens correctly identified different plants in 92.6% of cases and although specific data is not available, Google Lens has been reported from multiple sources as being very accurate with animal species as well.
Is Google Lens Safe?
It’s no secret that many companies are using their cool and unique softwares as a way to actually steal your personal data. But, could a camera app that is used as a helpful tool really be doing the same thing? Unfortunately, the answer is not completely clear, but there are some that definitely have their suspicions. According to wired.com, it is thought that Google came out with this technology to learn more about the habits of their customers. For example, if you’re constantly snapping photos of plants to identify different species, it may be safe for Google to assume that you’d be interested in seeing ads that are related to plants and gardening — making their ad revenue increase even more.
This app may seem a little invasive, but the silver lining is that the app can only use your data when you’re actively using it, so you have the comfort of knowing that it is not mining your data while you’re scrolling through other applications. Check out the full article to learn more about the privacy concerns of Google Lens.
Worth the Download?
Companies like Google are all about innovation and having the latest and most sought after technology on the market, and although Google Lens may make your life a little more convenient, the issue of data mining may always be present. However, the convenience of learning about new objects around you may outweigh the possible privacy concerns. Now that you have everything you need to know about Google Lens, do you think it’s worth the download?