I know you’re all super busy, so let me quickly run you through all the search-related announcements Google announced at Google I/O yesterday. From multisearch near me, immersive map views, Google Translate & Lens extension, image skin tones and schema, My Ad Center, personal information tool, about this results extension, Android and much more.
I’ll skip most of the event and just highlight the search-related topics below. But I’ll also embed the keynote so you can check it out below.
I’ll make this just as easy to consume by embedding tweets that share the news in a super fast and digestible way:
Google’s Mission: Snoring…
Google should always be at the forefront of making knowledge more accessible…
†@SundarPichai shares how we continue to advance Google’s mission of turning information into knowledge and improving computing technology to make that knowledge accessible to the world, wherever you are. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/qmymBTNItR
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Multiple searches near me
This takes the new Multisearch feature, search with images and text at the same time, but brings it to local:
We recently launched multisearch in the Google app, which allows you to search by taking a photo and asking a question at the same time. Later this year you can take a photo or screenshot and add “near me” to get local results. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/F2kl0m9nYt
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Scene Reconnaissance
You can scan an area and Google Lens will merge it to overlay search information:
In the future, you can pan your camera, ask a question and view relevant information in the context of the world around you. It’s like a supercharged CTRL+F for the real world. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/EeSse3Dmtf
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Immersive view in Google Maps
This is pretty cool, Google will stitch photos together to give you this new immersive view – later to a Google Maps near you:
Immersive view in @Google Maps is a new way to experience what a neighborhood, monument, restaurant and location will look like – and even feel like you are there yourself. It uses advances in computer vision and AI to fuse billions of Street View images together. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/DgJwwE03rQ
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Skin Tone Google Image Search
A new way to filter by skin color in Google Images, with schema support:
For Google Images makeup searches, such as “everyday eyeshadow” and “bridal makeup looks”, you now find a new way to filter for relevant skin tones to get more useful results. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/Y8t0oXtoqv
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
In the coming months, we’ll also be working on a way for content creators and online businesses to label their images so that search engines and other platforms can easily understand skin tone, hair color, and hair texture in images. Learn more. #GoogleIO https://t.co/8UToQLc0yr
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 11, 2022
Google My Ad Center
More ways searchers can manage their ad privacy…
We will be launching My Ad Center later this year. You can easily manage the privacy settings of your ads and even choose to see ads from categories or brands you like, giving you more control over the ads you see on YouTube, Search, and Discover. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/jWNog7xsrS
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Google Translate gets 24 languages
More languages have been added to Google Translate with new ML to help:
We’re adding 24 new languages to Google Translate – the first using a groundbreaking machine learning approach called Zero-Shot Machine Translation, where the model learns a new language without ever seeing a direct translation of it. #GoogleIO https://t.co/5Imnj6ff1E
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Google Lens is popular
And it should be really popular and growing, Google Lens is just as impressive:
Google Lens helps you search for what you see. It is now used more than 8 billion times a month, which is almost a threefold increase from last year. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/7qENSkvJuM
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Google Assistant More Natural
Proverb #HeyGoogle or worrying about the ‘right’ way to ask can feel unnatural. That’s why we’re improving the way the Assistant understands you, so you can talk more naturally, like you would a friend. Knowing more #GoogleIO https://t.co/YviVJIxhYq
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Personal Information Removal Tool
You can now use a form to remove personal information from Google Search, but a new tool should make it easier.
Soon, a new tool will make it easier to request removal from Google search results with your contact information, such as your home address, phone number, and email address. This feature is available in the Google app and in separate Google search results. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/aoMyLmVdpo
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
About this result in the Google app on your site
I’m not sure I like Google posting their about this result on your site, but it’s the Google app that does this:
To help you evaluate the reliability of information, you’ll soon be able to find relevant context about any website with just one tap in the Google app, such as the site description, what they say about themselves, and what others are saying about them. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/jPA1XI9SpY
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Google made it sound like this feature is widely used, but it’s a tiny fraction of all searches:
About this result Used 1.6 billion times pic.twitter.com/IXR2LoLTp1
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 11, 2022
Google AR Future
Google hinted that AR features are coming, maybe a new version of Google Glass?
Augmented reality can remove barriers to communication – and help us understand each other better by making language visible. See what happens when we bring technologies like transcription and translation to your field of vision. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/ZLhd4BWPGh
— Google (@Google) May 11, 2022
Google’s SVP Summary
Here’s how Prabhakar Raghavan, Senior Vice President at Google, where he is responsible for Google Search, Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce and Payments, summarized the search-related announcements at Google I/O 2022:
You’ll have more natural, intuitive experiences across all of our products, from a more immersive & 3D Google Maps (less like a paper map on a phone!)… to an Assistant who really understands you (umms and ahhs included!). .. too much, much more. (2/4)
— Prabhakar Raghavan (@WittedNote) May 11, 2022
TL;DR: We believe that the way you search shouldn’t be limited to typing keywords into a search box… we’re rethinking what it means to search again so you can any way, anywhere can search✨ (4/4 )
— Prabhakar Raghavan (@WittedNote) May 11, 2022
All of Google’s I/O-related announcements can be found in this section of the Google blog.
Later today, the following will be available for search and ads:
It’s amazing how few sessions Google has I/O on Google Search (3) and Google Ads (2) https://t.co/YGkDjyhLbH pic.twitter.com/OjaktAsIWc
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 11, 2022
Here’s the keynote video:
Here’s the short version:
Forum discussion on Twitter†