Google Tests Gemini Video Search Feature for Mobile Users in India
Google is testing a new generative AI feature in India that lets users record videos and ask Gemini questions about the visual content. The company is expanding multimodal search options to cater to the country's strong preference for voice and video interactions.
Google is testing a new generative AI-powered video search feature in India that allows users to record a video using Google Lens and ask questions about its contents. To access this experimental tool, users need to sign up for the "AI Overviews and More" program through Google Search Labs. The feature is currently available exclusively on mobile devices and only supports English-language queries.
India serves as the largest monthly user base for Google Lens, making it a prime market for this multimodal search expansion. Google notes that over 40% of Indian users prefer talking to Gemini rather than typing out text queries. To accommodate this communication style, the company is also introducing local language support for free-flowing conversations with Gemini Live in Hindi, with additional regional languages set to arrive soon.
This latest initiative continues Google's ongoing effort to evolve how people search for information using mixed media. The tech giant first allowed users to combine photos and text for searches back in 2021 to eliminate the need for complex written descriptions, and subsequently brought those multimodal search capabilities to India in 2022. By integrating video into the search process, Google aims to make information retrieval even more intuitive and accessible.