Overview

• YouTube has started rolling out Google Lens in Shorts to all viewers this week through a beta release.
• Users can pause a Short, tap the Lens icon, then draw, highlight or tap objects and landmarks to get instant visual matches and search results overlaid on the video.
• During the beta phase, Lens results will be ad-free and the feature won’t work on Shorts containing YouTube Shopping affiliate links or paid promotions.
• YouTube says Lens may surface information on notable public figures but does not employ biometric facial recognition to identify individuals.
• The integration builds on April’s creator tool enhancements and represents YouTube’s push to boost visual search and rival TikTok and Instagram Reels.