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This iPhone Feature Will Turn You Into a Plant Expert

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Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via…read more
published May 10, 2022
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If you have any interest in plants, then you probably have at least one plant-identifying app on your phone. These apps allow you to snap a picture of a plant you’re interested in and the app will scan the image to tell you what the plant is, how to take care of it, if it’s edible, etc. etc.

But according to one TikToker, iPhone users don’t need to clog up their phones with a separate app. Darcy (@thedarcymichael) found out that a new iPhone update includes a plant-identifying feature hidden away behind the “info” button.

“Plant friends, there is a new update on the iPhone that is so fun…All you have to do is take a picture of a plant on your iPhone and then hit this little info button and it will tell you the name of the fucking plant!”

But perhaps the most unbelievable aspect of this whole thing is that this feature has been around for months. And it doesn’t just work on plants.

As of July 2021, Apple iOS updates have included a new AI-driven feature called Visual Look Up. It can identify plants, books, artworks, landmarks, and even breeds of pets. 

After you take a photo of really anything you want to learn more about, just tap the info button (which will have a little sparkle next to it if something can be identified) and hit “look up.” You’ll then be offered similar web images and Wikipedia articles telling you more about whatever is in your photo.

Mind blown. With so much plant knowledge and more literally a picture away, thumbs have never been greener and brains have never been bigger.

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