Vision AI models are changing the way we interact with the world – right from our phones. From translating text on the fly to identifying plants (or even creepy crawlers) to solving math problems and so much more, these tools can “see” and respond in ways that truly make life so much easier.
ChatGPT Vision is OpenAI’s multimodal upgrade that lets you interact with images the same way you do with text. Directly within either the ChatGPT app or from your browser, users can upload a photo and the chatbot will analyze, explain and even walk you through whatever questions you have about the image.
Similarly, Google Lens directly integrates into Android and Google apps to help users translate text, identify products and landmarks and even help with shopping. It is known for it’s quick recognition, making it a go-to for anyone who needs answers right from their phone.
But while they both serve the same purpose, not all vision models are created equal. To find out which ones actually deliver, I put ChatGPT Vision and Google Lens head-to-head across seven everyday scenarios. The results may surprise you.
1. Translation
For this first prompt, I took a photo of the Spanish directions within an ebike user manual. I asked each model to translate it.
ChatGPT Vision did a nice job translating the user manual, but it took longer and there were more steps involved.
Google Lens translated the user manual in front of my eyes. Without even asking, the model “sees” the words and translates them with a simple toggle.
Winner: Google Lens wins for easy and fast translation.
2. Solving a hand-written math problem
I jotted down a difficult algebra problem on a sheet of scrap paper and snapped a photo of the handwritten math problem. From there, I asked each to solve step by step.
ChatGPT Vision broke down the problem with multiple steps to make the complicated algebra problem easier to understand and ultimately get to the final answer.
Google Lens took one look at the math problem and solved it in seconds. However, while it showed work, it did not show as much as ChatGPT, ultimately getting to the conclusion without explaining it step-by-step.
Winner: ChatGPT Vision wins for better breaking down the problem for a more educational and thorough answer.
3. Identify and suggest
I pointed my camera at a shrub in my yard and asked the AI models what type of shrub it is and how do take care of it.
ChatGPT Vision identified the shrub and included ways to take care of it and how to look for signs that it is growing properly.
Google Lens identified the shrub in my yard but did not respond to how to take care of it as well as ChatGPT.
Winner: ChatGPT Vision wins for a more thorough, personal and accurate response.
4. Shopping help
This is something I do all the time to help my mom, who is a quilter, find fabric to purchase when she is left to only scraps. Both ChatGPT Vision and Google Lens have come in handy for this.
ChatGPT Vision told me directly that it could not help me find the name of the fabric or the manufacturer.
Google Lens not only pulled up the fabric but also gave me the name of it and where to buy it online.
Winner: Google Lens wins for being the best shopping assistant in this case.
Health/first-aid style (non-medical) support
For this one, I’ll spare you the image but as someone who is prone to hangnails and has gone to the ER and dermatologist for them, I can confidently say I know how to handle them. For this one, I shared an image of a hangnail to both of the chatbots.
ChatGPT Vision was able to look at my finger and immediately know what was going on, even offering soothing solutions like Epson salt. This is exactly what my dermatologist recommend.
Google Lens saw the image and offered a variety of possibilities, none of which was the actual problem. It described the image based on images of other Google Lens users. It didn’t offer anything more than generic follow-up.
Winner: ChatGPT Vision wins for quickly identifying my problem and offering immediate solutions. While ChatGPT is no substitute for an actual doctor, I have found ChatGPT-5 Vision to be helpful in a pinch, especially when helping me give details over the phone when talking to my kids’ pediatrician.
Everyday troubleshooting
This is another way I regularly use both ChatGPT Vision and Google Lens. I often snap a picture of my car dashboard when a warning light comes on and ask, “What does this mean and what should I do next?” I uploaded an image that I still had in my photos from a car I had about ten years ago.
ChatGPT Vision identified the image as a “malfunction indicator lamp” on the dashboard. It told me what it means and even what to do first.
Google Lens offered more generic help and included a link to the car’s user manual.
Winner: ChatGPT Vision wins for a more personalized response that helped me understand my specific problem rather than sending me off to find a solution myself in a user manual. I also found that it indicated the problem was probably minor, which is always good to know (minor or major issues) whenever a dashboard light comes on.
Creativity
I uploaded some artwork by my child; it’s a mixed media art piece. I asked for each model to explain the art in detail.
ChatGPT Vision accurately told me what the artwork looked like but didn’t go into much more detail than that.
Google Lens detailed nearly every element of my child’s art even showcasing some similar art pieces.
Winner: Google Lens wins for going above and beyond with both with the details of the explanation and encouraging more creativity by showcasing more artwork for inspiration.
The takeaway
After testing both tools across seven very different prompts, ChatGPT Vision is the clear winner. However, it did not dominate across every category. Google Lens shines when it comes to speed, shopping and creative exploration, while ChatGPT Vision stands out for depth, context and personalized help.
Which one is “best” ultimately depends on what you need most: instant answers or thoughtful breakdowns. My recommendation is to keep both AI vision apps handy so you’re covered for quick fixes, translations and deeper understanding. I use both all the time when I just need a second look.
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