The popular photo-sharing app has unreleased sections of code that will enable people to search for things using photos they take with their phone.
What it says: According to TechCrunch, text buried in Snapchat’s programming reads, “Press and hold to identify an object, song, barcode, and more! This works by sending data to Amazon, Shazam, and other partners.” After the scan is complete, you can “See all results at Amazon.”
Code detective: The feature, code-named “Eagle” was discovered by a 15-year-old app researcher, Ishan Agarwal.
Why it matters: It reveals a possible partnership with Amazon and indicates that Snapchat is looking for new ways to bring in revenue. According to the Information, Snap will also be launching a gaming platform this fall. A visual search feature could set Snapchat apart from platforms like Instagram and give users a reason to stay with—or come back to—the app. Snap’s stock got a 3 percent bump yesterday on the news.
This story first appeared in our daily tech newsletter, The Download. Sign up here.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
This startup wants to copy you into an embryo for organ harvesting
With plans to create realistic synthetic embryos, grown in jars, Renewal Bio is on a journey to the horizon of science and ethics.
VR is as good as psychedelics at helping people reach transcendence
On key metrics, a VR experience elicited a response indistinguishable from subjects who took medium doses of LSD or magic mushrooms.
This artist is dominating AI-generated art. And he’s not happy about it.
Greg Rutkowski is a more popular prompt than Picasso.
This nanoparticle could be the key to a universal covid vaccine
Ending the covid pandemic might well require a vaccine that protects against any new strains. Researchers may have found a strategy that will work.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.