Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.
YouTube is bringing Lens to Shorts. The feature, which will roll out in beta in the coming weeks, will let you search for more information about the animals, plants, and items you spot within a video.
If you’re watching a Short with a landmark in the background, for example, YouTube says you can use Lens to search for the specific landmark and find out more about where the video was filmed.
You’ll be able to use the feature by accessing Shorts from within YouTube’s mobile app. After you pause the Short, tap the Lens button in the top menu, and then circle, highlight, or tap the item you want to search for. YouTube will then show visual matches and search results overlaid on the Short. The platform notes that when you select one of these results, you can “quickly jump back into the content you were watching.”
Google has begun expanding Lens in recent months, as it now lets you search with video and can even help you figure out what to buy in store.
YouTube says that while Lens doesn’t use “biometric facial recognition” to identify specific people, it may show results for “notable public figures.” It also won’t show ads in results during the pilot, and will also not be available on Shorts with shopping affiliate links to start.