Google Play Store testing AI image search for 'Ask Play' assistant
Code found in Google Play Store version v52.8.55-34 reveals that Google is developing an image search feature for its AI assistant, 'Ask Play'. This feature will allow users to upload screenshots or take photos to search for apps, identify user interface elements, or find similar applications. This update shows how Google is integrating its multimodal AI capabilities directly into the Android app ecosystem, making app discovery more intuitive. Instead of relying on vague text queries, users can easily find apps by simply sharing visual examples like home screen setups or UI designs. The feature allows users to upload images from their gallery or use their camera directly within the Ask Play interface. Additionally, Google plans to embed Ask Play into app detail pages, enabling users to quickly ask questions about specific app details like privacy policies.
## BACKGROUND
'Ask Play' is an experimental conversational AI assistant designed to help users discover and learn about apps in the Google Play Store. This new capability leverages multimodal AI, a technology that processes and integrates different types of data, such as text and images, to perform complex tasks. Similar visual search technologies, like Google Lens and Circle to Search, are already widely used across the Android ecosystem.