Google app uses a selfie to find your painting double
A new feature in a Google app is social media’s obsession of the moment.
The Google Arts & Culture app (available on Android and iOS) was recently updated with a new feature. Take a selfie and Google will use its image-recognition software and a database of paintings from museums across the world to find your painting double.
Social media is full of users posting their matches. As of Monday afternoon, it is the top free app on the iOS and Android app stores.
Torn between which one I think is better likeness with the Google Arts and Culture app. pic.twitter.com/uSw8RmOip8
— Felicia Day (@feliciaday) January 13, 2018
Wow this google arts and culture app is scary accurate pic.twitter.com/z9nEXOWg8b
— blake j (@BlakeJ98) January 15, 2018
Hey good morning everyone, this Google Arts and Culture app is scary. pic.twitter.com/yt2kSYMWyM
— Ding Dong Daddi (@sixthsentz) January 13, 2018
so I did the google arts and culture nonsense and I think this is actually a painting of my grandma when she was younger??? wild pic.twitter.com/EgZHhq0P2E
— Isabelle Monnin (@Isabelle_Monnin) January 14, 2018
google arts and culture app truly believes i am. prince ferenc. pic.twitter.com/7og8esJQyy
— vero 🏳️🌈 (@cIassicdog) January 13, 2018
I’ve taken like 20 selfies with the Google arts & culture app and gotten this horrifying guy as my top result EVERY SINGLE TIME, who do I sue pic.twitter.com/PjuvT0IXIU
— Caroline Wazer (@CarolineWazer) January 13, 2018
Hey this one ain’t so bad. pic.twitter.com/er0FxZNVO8
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) January 13, 2018
This being social media, there were also jokes.
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Omg google arts and culture told me I look like this painting :) pic.twitter.com/nzNlD5bCI7
— emily!!!!!! (@giant_orb) January 12, 2018
@ all of u doing that google arts and culture thing I MET my painting doppelgänger pic.twitter.com/GSXGFQV4xn
— peyton ☀️ (@peytonsiegler) January 15, 2018
Bold and Brash 100% match thank you Google Arts & Culture pic.twitter.com/CV55UAKrAJ
— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) January 14, 2018
Wow I can’t believe how accurate this Google Arts and Culture app is! It’s a perfect match ❤️ pic.twitter.com/EnoJXeSGfp
— Madeline Anthes (@maddieanthes) January 14, 2018
According to Recode, Google says this feature is an experiment. The advertising company told The Sun the feature is only available in "parts of the U.S."
To get started, open the Culture app and scroll down in the main feed until you see the virtual card for painting matching. Google says in the app it will not keep your selfie for any longer than to find a match.
The Google Arts & Culture app, according to its App Store description, collaborates with more than 1,200 “museums, galleries and institutions to make their exhibits available for everyone online.” The app includes virtual tours of famous museums and VR content with Google Cardboard.
