How AI is Changing the Way We Search for Images?
Artificial Intelligence, or as we call it AI, has made a lot of things easier for us. From automation in production, supply chain, and logistics to residential applications such as automated locking and lighting systems, AI has been successful in grabbing the attention of a wide variety of users. The versatile nature of this technology makes it usable everywhere.
Web search is not different, popular search engines have AI-based algorithms to understand the intent of users when they are searching on the web and bring bespoke results to enhance the user experience.
Searching for images on the web is not an exception as well. In fact, AI has a lot to do with image search to make the search for images an easy task.
It has revolutionized the way we used to search for images back in the old days. Picture search has become as easy as text-based search, all thanks to AI. If you want to know more about the part played by AI in the working of the reverse image search method that is generally used to search images online, then you are at the right place.
What is the Role of AI in Reverse Image Search?
The first question you would ask when it comes to the change of way for photo search because of AI is “what is the role of AI in reverse image search?”. In simple words, the answer is CBIR (Content-Based Image Retrieval) algorithm. However, we need to discuss the working of the CBIR algorithm that works in the background of reverse photo lookup to understand the role of AI in picture search properly.
The CBIR algorithm is based on three advanced technologies known AI, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision. All these technologies play their part in making reverse image search an efficient way to find similar images. On the user’s end, the process is quite simple. Users simply need to search by image, just like they search by text. Instead of a text query, they upload an image that serves as a query.
As soon as, the image query is uploaded, the process of reverse image search takes a few seconds to display resembling results. However, it is not that simple in the background of this technique. The background process can be divided into 4 different sub-processes, namely scanning, segmentation, identification, and search. We will discuss all these matters in detail and help you understand how AI is involved in the process. Read on to know more:
Scanning
The very first process done by CBIR in the reverse image search method is scanning the image. This process involves a thorough scan of the uploaded image. Computer Vision technology becomes directly involved in this process that allows the CBIR algorithm to notice the content featured in the given picture.
Segmentation
Once the scanning process is done, the segmentation process starts. This is where artificial intelligence plays its part the most. Just the neural networks working in a human brain, advancements in technology have allowed us to develop artificial neural networks or Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). These neural networks are based on AI, and these are capable of layering a picture. And going through each pixel of an image to retrieve relevant information.
- Identification
In the process of identification, the retrieved information becomes passed on to the CBIR algorithm. AI and Machine Learning technologies collaborate to identify and predict the content featured in the image. These technologies figure out the dominant colours in the image, faces, objects, and even places. Deep learning libraries help the CBIR algorithm predict places, faces, and objects featured in the image. Moreover, the text included in the image becomes understood during this process.
- Search
Once the identification process is done and all the features of the uploaded image are identified and predicted. The searching process initiates. The objective of this process is to deliver search results in the form of images that resemble the uploaded image query based on the dominant colour, text, faces, objects, or place featured in the image. Once the CBIR algorithm finds relevant results from the search engine database, it displays the results quickly. It should be noted that all these sub-processes are carried out quickly. And the entire reverse image search process takes nothing more than a few minutes.
How AI-Based Reverse Image Search Makes Things Easier?
Now that we have some basic know-how about the working of AI-based reverse image search. It is time to understand how using this mode of search to find images online makes things easier for us.
Finding Stolen Images Online
If you are a website owner or digital marketer. You can understand how excessively image theft occurs. There are numerous websites on the web that use images without the prior consent of their actual owner. Such entities don’t even care about copyright infringement repercussions. All they want to do is to load their website with images by hook or crook.
This act of piracy can be the reason behind the huge monetary losses that are endured by the website that actually owns those visual assets. However, the AI-based reverse image search method is a great way to debunk these moral culprits who do copyright infringement and use pictures from other websites without any prior consent.
This act of piracy becomes the reason behind the huge monetary losses endured by the website that actually owns those visual assets. However, the AI-based reverse image search method is a great way to debunk these moral culprits who do copyright infringement and use pictures from other websites without any prior consent.
When you search by image as a query, it will bring you all the image search results that resemble the uploaded image. Hence, you can easily find websites or entities using your visual assets without your consent and sue them for copyright infringement. Additionally, you can ask them to give you the due credit for the image by a backlink to your website as well.
Easy Way to Find a Merchandise
Gone are the days when you had to give up the idea of buying your favorite products. Because of a lack of information about the seller of those products. AI-based reverse image search has made things significantly easier for you. Simply click a snap of the product you want and upload it to a photo search facility.
Once you upload the image, you will find numerous search results in a few seconds. The image search utility will display the resembling images as well as the related info you need to find the seller of those products. Not only that, such a search utility will show you all the vendors selling that product, including the ones selling online and the ones who sell it in their brick and mortar outlets as well.
The AI-based reverse picture search will also indirectly help you find the best deal on the products you love. If you are taking the help of the photo search to find the product, you will find numerous sellers selling the product, and you can opt for the vendor that offers it at a competitive price. How cool is that? Are you ready to take the help of the search by image method to find the best price for products you love?
End Words!
Advancement in technology is nothing less than a blessing for us. The evolution of technologies like AI has made a lot of things easier for us. Online image search is one of them, and AI plays a significant part in making the reverse photo lookup an efficient way to find similar images online.
In this writing, we have discussed the role of AI in image search and the overall working of this method to help you understand how it makes things easier for us. We hope you will find this information useful and save your effort by making use of the reverse photo lookup to find the desired images online.
How AI is Changing the Way We Search for Images?
