Google Lens expands its capabilities by translating prescription scribbles into readable text
Google is moving to clear up one of the oldest headaches in healthcare: deciphering doctor handwriting. At its recent tech event, the company unveiled an update that brings a new translation capability to Google Lens, now embedded within the search engine. With a quick photo of a medical prescription, the AI is designed to interpret the handwriting and identify the prescribed medications. Achieving this required close collaboration with pharmacists from multiple regions to ensure accuracy and safety in real world use.
Initially, the feature will support Hindi, reflecting the strong volume of Google Lens users in India. The plan is to broaden the translator to additional languages and markets, including several European languages. English and Russian are among the languages cited for future expansion, aiming to make prescription reading easier for more patients and caregivers around the world.
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Notes from industry observers highlight that the practical impact of handwriting translation depends on the quality of the input image, the legibility of the script, and the pharmacy’s medication list. As such, clinicians and patients are likely to treat the feature as a helpful aid rather than a sole source of truth. Ongoing updates will focus on improving recognition accuracy, expanding language coverage, and enhancing integration with healthcare workflows. The overarching goal is to reduce errors, save time, and support safer patient care across different healthcare systems. Source attribution: Tech coverage and product briefings discuss the rollout and its implications.