The Google Files app has a new feature that helps users find information in documents and images. Called Smart Search, the feature utilizes machine learning abilities to scan the content of different files and bring back the most relevant results. However, the feature isn’t available to everyone as it is under testing. Here’s everything you should know about the Smart Search feature in Google Files.
Smart Search Can Go Through Files And Images
Per Google Play Store’s changelog for the Files app seen by Android Police, the app is testing advanced search capabilities to make “finding files easy.” The changelog encourages users with access to the feature to search using text from images and PDFs, location and objects in pictures or other documents, and artists/albums from audio and video.
The Feature Recognizes Different Objects
In other words, the Files app can now recognize text from within images or other documents and other objects in the image, such as a plant, animal, etc. For instance, if users have a screenshot with someone’s address but can’t find it, they can conduct a Smart Search using the area or a phrase of address, and they should get back the screenshot with the complete address. Similarly, users can search for a dog, cat, or bird and bring back images of these animals.
Drawbacks Of Smart Search
However, Android Police also notes that it couldn’t search through images via location, as mentioned in the changelog. Another drawback is that the feature doesn’t sample through recently added content. Every time users add new files to their smartphone, they will take a couple of days before appearing in the Smart Search results. Even though newly added files come up when users search by name, searching by content won’t return anything.
Apple’s Spotlight Provides Similar Functionality
Although Smart Search is a great feature, especially since it removes the need to manually open files and look for the required piece of text or image, it is still in the early phase. Further, iOS users already have a similar feature in place called Spotlight. It allows them to search by swiping down on the home screen and bringing back all the data it can find, including matching contacts, images, documents, links, etc.
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