YouTube Shorts is getting a tech upgrade as Google Lens integration begins rolling out in the coming weeks. The feature will let users search directly within a Short using Google Lens a move that feels a lot like Circle to Search but with a different UI. This means you’ll soon be able to pause a Short, tap the Lens icon, and instantly search anything on-screen.
Google confirmed the news in a recent community post, explaining that users can highlight landmarks, products, or anything interesting within a Short and get search results overlaid on the video. While similar to Circle to Search on Android devices, this feature will live right inside YouTube Shorts’ top menu.
The Lens-in-Shorts feature is launching in beta this week without ads in the search results, but ads will likely appear once it reaches general rollout. It’s another step in Google’s plan to supercharge YouTube Shorts as one of its fastest-growing platforms.
