Apple gets Google Lens-like Live Text feature two years after Google launched it

Apple kicked off its annual developers conference WWDC 2021on Monday. The Cupertino-giant announced software upgrades to the iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS and the all-new macOS Monterey. The new upgrades bring along tons of new features including a revamped Siri, feature-loaded FaceTime and more. Apple has announced Live Text feature on-device intelligence to recognize text in a photo and allow users to take action. Did that feature sound familiar? Well in case you don't remember, Google has a similar feature called Google Lens, which was launched two years ago.

Apple says that the new Live Text uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in a photo and allow users to take action. Something that Google Lens has been doing for years. For instance, if there is something important written on the whiteboard and you want to copy the entire thing on your phone but do not have the time to sit and write. You can simply point the camera towards the text and copy the entire thing and then paste it on your mail to send it to someone if you wish to.

"With the power of the Apple Neural Engine, the Camera app can also quickly recognize and copy the text at the moment, such as the Wi-Fi password displayed at a local coffee shop. With Visual Look Up, users can learn more about popular art and landmarks around the world, plants and flowers found in nature, breeds of pets, and even find books," Apple said in the blog. Spotlight can also find texts and handwriting in pictures using the Live Text feature.

This tool is particularly useful for students they can easily copy whatever is written on the board if they are to lazy to jot it down. Similarly, the officer goers can also benefit from the feature.