The Popularity of Visual Content
During the early days of the internet, forums and lengthy blog posts were the default. Then smartphones were released in 2007 and over the next decade, social media went mainstream. Over time, platforms like Facebook took a backseat to image-based platforms like Instagram, while Twitter (now X) introduced multimedia through video posts and even streams.
As the internet’s media landscape matured, certain industries even started to offer visual content as a product or service. Notable examples include the Kindle, allowing readers to store all their books in a convenient tablet, or Netflix’s industry-defining success at streaming movies and TV shows. More broadly, video and later streamed video took off thanks to services like Netflix along with free video-sharing sites like YouTube, which later allowed users to go live and interact with audiences in real-time. Visual content didn’t stop there – new tech like streaming also redefined other industries like iGaming websites. These sites traditionally offered slots and other digital game simulations, with graphics getting better over the years. However, when streaming became viable for businesses around the world, a lot of sites created live casinos serving different regions of the world. That’s why there are many online casinos based in Ireland that offer a range of themed slots with unique visual assets and interactive live streams where table games like blackjack or roulette are played. While visual content services have already reshaped the entertainment industry, it’s important to note that they are constantly improving and will only become more sophisticated in the future.
In light of the popularity of visual content, Google has invented new ways to interact with images through Google Lens. This mobile service introduced the innovative ‘circle to search’ feature allowing users to search for items found in images online. It also contained some limited information about the image featured. This AI-powered feature for Google Lens has recently made its way to the desktop, and now Google has expanded the ‘about’ feature.
About This Image Explained
During its launch in 2023, Google rolled out the ‘about this image’ feature to provide context around pictures online. When summoned, you could see three things about any image on the internet:
1. When Google indexed the image.
2. When it was first published.
3. News or social media sites that published the image.
This feature was first introduced as a precaution against misleading content online. For example, a social media post could feature an image and say it was a recent occurrence. However, through an ‘about this image’ search, users could find its source and news coverage that proves it’s an older image, and so probably irrelevant to the original topic.
Google’s New ‘About This Image’ Features
Now, in 2024, Google’s expansion to ‘about this image’ uses AI to provide even more information for users. For example, it takes a deeper look at how other sites have used the image and described it. It can also pull metadata from the original image. You can learn more about metadata from the experts at Canon.
Lastly, it uses AI to combat AI-generated images that might be sophisticated enough to pass on as the real deal. As AI tools get better, certain images may be indistinguishable from real-life photographs. This can lead to a scenario where a Google user tries to search for an item or a piece of clothing in an image that doesn’t technically exist. Fortunately for us, those images have metadata and so-called tells that other AI tools can spot. The ‘about this image’ feature tells users if the image is real or computer generated.
Google also expanded support for over 40 languages, taking this nifty feature worldwide. While it’s a relatively small update in the grand scheme of Google’s business, it shows they are dedicated to showing images in their true context and making sure users can trust the visual content they see online.
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