I’ve been using Google Lens for as long as I can remember. Whether I’m trying to figure out which version of a Nike running shoe I’m looking at or if the plant I just brushed up against is poison ivy, I love to whip out Google Lens for a quick answer. Then, when Apple announced Visual Intelligence for the iPhone 16 as part of its Apple Intelligence rollout, I was intrigued. It looked almost exactly like the experience I got from Google but with additional answers powered by ChatGPT. I waited patiently for the public beta of iOS 18.2 to arrive and set out to explore the latest chapter in the battle of Apple vs Google. Here’s how Apple Visual Intelligence compares to Google Lens.