Google's library of AR animals grows, welcoming zebras, giraffes, chow chows, and more

Android users may miss out on Apple's "animoji" but they do get to enjoy Google's ever-growing zoo of augmented reality animals.

It started in mid-2019, when Google searches for a handful of animals on supported Android devices included a "View in 3D" result. Just over a year later, in August, the feature also came to the Google Arts & Culture app, with a specific focus on AR recreations of "ancient creatures."

Now, the library of animals has grown. Google confirmed on Friday that there's been 50 new additions to the library. These include more exotic animals, like giraffes and zebras, as well as more mundane livestock (pigs and cows), cats, and even a specific dog breed, the noble and beautiful chow chow. [Author's note: My first dog was a chow chow, so maybe I'm biased.] Read more...