Google Search Live Gets Visual AI Boost
Users can now converse with Google Search using their camera.
Google is expanding its AI capabilities by allowing users to share visual input within Search Live, a feature first showcased at the 2025 I/O Conference. This integration brings the instant response potential of Project Astra directly into Google Search.
AI Conversations Go Visual
Building on the conversational power similar to Gemini, the updated Search Live app enables users to engage in back-and-forth dialogues with Google Search via voice and video. This cutting-edge feature entered a beta phase in June.
Enhanced Interface and Real-Time Feedback
Participants in the Search Labs program will notice a new lens input button within the full-screen Search Live interface. When the video function is activated, the four colored arcs at the top of the screen transform into a viewfinder, providing live visual feedback.
New Access Points for Visual Search
Users can initiate Search Live from the AI mode conversation area, located at the bottom right, or from the top of the Google app, beneath the search bar. Within the Search Live interface, a “Video” option appears between the mute and transcribe controls.
A refined version of Google Lens also provides access, transitioning its interface to a full-screen viewfinder. The previous bottom section now features a prominent pill-shaped button offering “Search,” “Translate,” and “Live” functions. This direct camera activation streamlines the process of starting a Search Live session compared to other voice-first methods.
Search Live’s lens mode has been observed on several U.S. accounts enrolled in the experimental Labs program, running the latest stable (16.28) and beta (16.29) versions of the Google app for Android.
Context and Future of Search
This evolution reflects a broader trend in search technology. By May 2024, AI-powered search features were projected to account for over 15% of total search queries, highlighting the increasing demand for intuitive and interactive search experiences. Search Engine Journal reported on these growing trends.
