Google Lens vs Pinterest Lens

Google Lens is a visual search tool that works from a camera, image or screenshot. It can identify plants and animals, and provide information about artwork, murals and landmarks. For shopping, Lens can find a pictured item's maker, price and sellers, with refinements for patterns, colors and sizes. It can translate text in over 100 languages and copy text to a phone or computer. In the Google app, users can ask questions about what they see and find homework explainers, videos and web results across subjects including math, history, chemistry, biology and physics. Lens in desktop Chrome lets users select web content, search it and ask questions without leaving the tab. That page-search feature requires Google as the default search engine; Google says it sends a screenshot and page data when used. Lens is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows, and is listed as free.

Pinterest Lens lets people search for ideas using objects in pictures. On mobile, users can take a photo or choose one from the camera roll; on the web, they can upload an image or select one previously uploaded. Pinching to zoom or tapping an object helps focus the camera. Visual search can find Pins with items similar to a whole image or part of one, and suggested keywords or refinements can narrow results. Where available, users can select an object in a Pin to find similar items for sale on merchant websites. They can also cut objects out of Pins and add them to collages. Pinterest says visual search features are not available on ads or collage Pins. Lens is free on Android, iOS, and web, and requires a Pinterest account; mobile camera search requires camera access. Pinterest provides controls to access, edit, or delete personal data and adjust certain privacy and data-sharing settings. On Android, camera permission allows Lens to take pictures or look for ideas through the camera.