Apps and Software
Artificial Intelligence

Google Lens now uses AI to help you identify that weird rash

Thanks, AI.
By Cecily Mauran  on 
Close up of person hand applying lotion to their forearm
Is this an ER situation or an aloe situation? Now you have a better idea. Credit: Getty Images

Google's new tool will help parents answer the question, "Is this rash serious?"

On Wednesday, Google announced new capabilities for Lens(opens in a new tab), its visual search tool. By uploading a photo of you or your kid's skin condition, you can use Lens to search visually similar skin ailments, helping you determine what it might be.

Heads up: images of minor skin conditions below.

Google Lens isn't a diagnostic tool, so don't consider this a substitute for a doctor. But by looking at similar images, it can help you make an informed decision about whether to give the pediatrician a call, or just rub calamine lotion on it. You can look up skin conditions on Lens starting today and can access Lens on Android and iOS through the Google app.

Image of Google Lens taking a photo of skin condition
Use Lens to take a photo or upload a photo and search for similar skin conditions. Credit: Google
Google Lens searching for skin conditions that are visually similar to the photo taken.
Parents take note for kids coming back from summer camp with mysterious rashes or bites. Credit: Google

Google shared other Lens announcements beyond the oddly specific, yet helpful skin condition lookup feature. Lens is will soon be integrated with company's AI chatbot Bard. Teased at Google I/O, Bard is now multimodal, which means you can include images in prompts. For example, you can upload an image of a bird you don't recognize and ask Bard to help you identify it.

Beyond Lens, Bard will also support text-to-image prompts which is powered by Adobe's new generative AI image creator, Firefly. Multimodal capabilities will be released in the coming weeks.

Mashable Image
Cecily Mauran

Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on Twitter at @cecily_mauran(opens in a new tab).


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