YouTube Shorts Now Lets You Search Videos with Google Lens

YouTube Shorts is a great way to kill time when you’re bored. Now, YouTube Shorts is getting a cool new feature that lets you use Google Lens while watching. So, if you see something interesting, you can just pause the video and tap on the screen to look it up right then and there. It’s a neat little trick that makes watching Shorts way more interactive.

YouTube Shorts is getting a cool Google Lens integration

Google has started rolling out this Lens feature in the beta version of the YouTube app, according to Android Authority. That means some users will soon get to try it out firsthand. During this testing phase, you won’t see any ads in the Lens search results, keeping things nice and clean, so the focus stays on discovery. But once it’s available to everyone, Google plans to include ads in those results.

The search results pop up right on top of the video, so you don’t have to jump out of the Shorts app or interrupt your viewing flow. This way, you can dig a little deeper into whatever catches your eye without missing a beat. It’s kind of like the Circle to Search tool that some Android phones already have. But Google is bringing that functionality straight into YouTube Shorts and with a fresh new look to boot.

This feature could come in pretty handy, especially when you’re watching a Short and spot something you want to learn more about. Say you catch a cool gadget or accessory in a YouTube Short — just tap, and Google Lens can help you find all the details right away. Or maybe you’re admiring a beautiful landscape. The same feature lets you get the scoop on that scenery in an instant. It’s actually going to be a lot fun once it starts rolling out more widely.