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Path: AI on your phoneLesson 2 of 3

Point your camera, get answers

Use your phone's camera to identify a plant, translate a sign, copy text or look up a product, with Google Lens and iPhone's Live Text.

5 min readLast fact-checked: Oct 3, 2026Sources ↓

The short answer

Your phone’s camera can do more than take pictures. Point it at something, and AI can tell you what it is, translate it, or copy the words so you can use them.

1Open Google Lens or your camera
2Point at the thing or the text
3Tap to search, translate or copy
4Check the result makes sense
Works on plants, signs, menus, labels, landmarks and more.

Google Lens (iPhone and Android)

Google Lens is a free tool from Google. According to Google, it can:

  • Identify plants and animals (“learn about species and breeds”)
  • Translate text into any language Google Translate supports
  • Copy text from a sign, letter or label
  • Find similar products and where to buy them
  • Recognize landmarks, books, barcodes, business cards and more [1]

How to open it:

  • Using a photo you already took: open the Google Photos app, pick the photo, tap More, then Google Lens. [1][2]
  • Using the camera live: open the Google app and tap the Lens icon (a small camera) in the search bar. [6]

On iPhone, Google notes that Lens works through the Google app or Google Photos, not the built-in Camera app. [1]

iPhone: Live Text

iPhones have their own built-in tool called Live Text. Apple says it works on iPhone XS, iPhone XR and later. [3]

  1. Open the Camera app and point it at some text.
  2. Tap the Live Text button that appears.
  3. Now you can copy the text, translate it, tap a phone number to call it, or look it up. [3]

Newer iPhones with Apple Intelligence also have Visual Intelligence, which lets you ask about what’s on your screen or in front of your camera, and take quick actions, for example getting nutrition information or splitting a bill. [5]

Watch out

Camera AI can be wrong. Never eat a wild plant or mushroom based on what an app says, and double-check important translations with a person who speaks the language. Also note: Google saves your Lens activity to your account unless you turn that setting off. [1] See Phone AI and your privacy.

Try it yourself

Find a plant in your home or garden, or any sign or label with words on it. Point Google Lens (or your iPhone’s Live Text) at it and see what it tells you. Then try translating a few words into another language.

You've got this
  • Google Lens identifies things, translates text and finds products.
  • iPhone’s Live Text lets you copy, translate or call text from the camera.
  • Check important results, and never trust an app to tell you a plant is safe to eat.
Next in this path · Lesson 3Phone AI and your privacy: settings to checkKeep going
AI on your phoneThe AI that's already on your phone5 min readAI on your phonePhone AI and your privacy: settings to check5 min read
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Sources

  1. Google Search Help — Get info about your photos & surroundings (Google Lens, iPhone & iPad)— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  2. Google Photos Help — Get info about your photos & surroundings (Google Lens, Android)— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  3. Apple Support — Copy and translate text from photos on your iPhone or iPad (Live Text)— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  4. Apple Support — Use visual intelligence on iPhone— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  5. Apple — Apple Intelligence (Visual Intelligence)— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  6. Google Search Help — Search with an image on Google (Google app, Lens in the search bar)— accessed Oct 3, 2026

What changed

Oct 3, 2026: First published.