How to use Google’s viral feature that matches your selfie to a famous painting

The app allows users to take a selfie, upload it and then match it with a doppelgänger in one of several art museums worldwide.

New Google app feature to match selfies with artwork (Kul Bhushan)

Google's Arts and Culture App has raced to the number one spot in the US Apple app store after it's new feature that lets users match their selfies with the famous artwork went viral.

Essentially, the app allows users to take a selfie, upload it and then match it with a doppelgänger in one of several art museums worldwide.

"The update to the Google Arts and Culture App has catapulted it to the most-downloaded free app on the Apple App Store. It claimed the No. 1 spot in the US, according to the app metrics site AppAnnie," Recode reported late on Sunday.

The app uses computer-vision technology to examine what is similar about the user's face to the thousands of pieces of art that are shared with Google by museums and other institutions. The tech giant said this new feature is merely experimental, the report added.

Formerly known as the Google Art Project and launched in February 2011, the new initiative from the tech giant aims to make great art more accessible in this digital age, using some of the technology tools that it has created, according to Inverse.

Hey this one ain't so bad. pic.twitter.com/er0FxZNVO8

— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) January 13, 2018

The project was launched in collaboration with 17 international museums, including the Tate Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Uffizi in Florence.

How to use this feature

Step 1
Download the latest version of Google's Arts and Culture App from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app is available for free. The feature appears to be limited to the US region, but if you still want to use it, you most probably use a VPN and select your location to the US.

Step 2
After having set up, launch the app. Scroll down the home screen. You will notice a card stating "is your portrait in a museum?" . Tap the "get started" button.

Step 3
Hit accept and continue.