# Reverse image search is kind of amazing (and a bit scary)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-image-search-is-kind-of-amazing-and-a-bit-scary/1002837>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 13, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-image-search-is-kind-of-amazing-and-a-bit-scary/1002837 "2024-06-13T13:39:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-image-search-is-kind-of-amazing-and-a-bit-scary/1002837/1 "2024-06-13T13:39:56Z")

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My cousin just bought a house. She sent me photos of the house (screen captures from the real estate website), but didn’t send me the address. I was curious, so I did a Google reverse image search, and it immediately returned many similar houses. I added the location where she was looking to the search, and the listing popped right up.

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-image-search-is-kind-of-amazing-and-a-bit-scary/1002837/2 "2024-06-13T15:41:00Z")

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I’ve used it a few times with no success at all.

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**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-image-search-is-kind-of-amazing-and-a-bit-scary/1002837/3 "2024-06-13T19:18:53Z")

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I’ve used it to replace dishes for a set I received 18 years ago.

I’ve used it to figure out what’s growing in my yard.

I’ve used it to identify new plants that work their way into my home and figure out how to take care of them.

Yeah it’s great, but pretty freaky you can find out where somebody lives this way.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-image-search-is-kind-of-amazing-and-a-bit-scary/1002837/4 "2024-06-13T19:49:55Z")

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It’s not exactly a reverse image search, but the image search on Amazon has helped me a couple times when I needed a replacement part that I have no other name for other than “doohickey.” I point the camera at it, take a pic, and voila, I get pages of my doohickey for sale. I was rather amazed at how well it works.