Skip to Content
Silicon Valley

Snapchat has a hidden visual search function

July 10, 2018

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

DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.

“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.

What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines

New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.

Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats

With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure

Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation

From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.