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Looking to get outside more? There are a number of AI-powered Google tools that can help with that \u2014 from informing you about the local foliage to helping you find a new walking path.<\/p>\n
Google Lens is an AI-powered tool that enables you to search using pictures. One of my favorite ways to use Lens is to identify plants. Every time I\u2019m on a walk and admiring my neighbors\u2019 landscaping, I pull out my phone and use the Lens tool to take a photo. The Search results identify the plant or flower in question, and I can follow the links to see additional information, like care instructions and propagation tips. Even if you don\u2019t have a green thumb, using Lens to learn more about the plants in your neighborhood is a fun addition to any stroll. All you have to do is pull up the Google app, select the Lens camera icon in the Search bar and use the \u201cSearch with your camera\u201d option to grab a photo. You can also select photos from your gallery if you\u2019ve got older images you want to learn more about.<\/p>\n
Lens also works with multisearch, so if you want to learn more about something you see, you can pair a photo with a question and get an AI overview in the results. For example, I have a shady yard, so snapping a photo of a cool cactus and adding the question \u201cwill this work in a shady yard?\u201d helped me figure out if it\u2019s a species that would survive in my garden. Sadly, the answer was no \u2014 but Lens did<\/i> help me discover that hydrangeas will thrive! So now I have a handy list of what to pick up next time I\u2019m at the nursery.<\/p>\n2. Use Google Maps to explore ahead of time<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019re visiting a place for the first time, try Immersive View. It uses AI to pull together billions of Street View and aerial images to help you feel like you\u2019re really there and prepare for your day outdoors. Make sure to check out the weather slider, which can show you what the area will be like throughout the day as the weather changes so you can make sure you pack a jacket or sunscreen if needed. Immersive View is currently available in cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tokyo and Venice.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re planning a bike ride, Maps can help you find the best route to take. Available in hundreds of cities, Maps\u2019 cycling information uses AI to show you the elevation along your route, if you\u2019ll encounter heavy car traffic, stairs or steep hills. You\u2019ll also be able to get a highly detailed breakdown of the route itself so you can know at a glance what type of road you\u2019ll be biking on \u2013 like a major road vs. a local street. All you have to do is select the cycling icon once you\u2019ve searched for directions.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s much easier to enjoy the outdoors when the outdoors are, well, enjoyable. The air quality index (AQI) feature in Google Maps shows the real-time AQI in an area. Select the \u201clayers\u201d option from the Maps app (both on your phone or computer), then choose \u201cair quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s a work meeting or a friendly catch-up, try taking calls from a park or a walk around the block. Pixel Buds Pro features Clear Calling, which uses AI to reduce background noise and enhance the voice of the person you\u2019re talking to, while also making your voice distinguishable from sounds happening around you. There\u2019s also Conversation Detection, which uses AI so that Pixel Buds Pro will pause your music or podcast if you meet up with someone after or during your walk. Then when you end your conversation, it will unpause them right where you left off.<\/p>\n
There are tons of ways to use Gemini to help you enjoy the great outdoors, but here are a few specific things you could try:<\/p>\n