How to Enable Gemini Web Search in MetaLensAI
Gemini Web Search lets MetaLensAI answer hands-free questions that need current online information. In Google documentation this capability is called Grounding with Google Search: Gemini can decide when a search is useful, query the web, synthesize the results, and return a more current answer.
Estimated setup time after billing is ready: 1 minute.
What Gemini Web Search does
When Web Search is enabled for Gemini conversations, MetaLensAI can let Gemini use Google's search grounding tool for questions that depend on fresh public information. This is useful for topics like recent events, current facts, products, public information, and time-sensitive questions that may have changed after the model was trained.
Google describes the flow as automatic: the app sends a prompt with the Google Search tool enabled, Gemini decides whether a search would improve the answer, processes the search results, and returns a grounded response with citation data available from the API.
Combine GPS and Web Search for answers that are current and local to your position. For example, if you are in Los Angeles and want to know what is happening nearby, ask the AI about your current location first, then ask for events in your area.
Official reference: Grounding with Google Search in the Gemini API.
Required Google AI Studio billing
With Gemini, Web Search in MetaLensAI requires a paid Gemini API project: Tier 1 with prepaid billing in Google AI Studio. A free Gemini API key can be enough for basic Gemini setup, but Web Search should be used with a paid project because Google bills search grounding usage.
- Open Google AI Studio API keys.
- Find the project connected to the Gemini API key you use in MetaLensAI.
- If the project is still on the Free Tier, click Set up billing under the billing tier column.
- Link or create a Google billing account, then complete the Prepay setup if Google AI Studio asks for it.
- Add the required prepaid credits. Google currently describes a minimum prepaid amount during the billing flow.
- After setup, confirm the project shows a paid tier such as Tier 1 and that the Prepay balance is active.
Official billing reference: Gemini API billing and tiers. You can also manage credits in Google AI Studio Billing.
Enable Web Search in MetaLensAI
- Open MetaLensAI on your Android phone.
- Go to Settings / Advanced AI Settings / Conversations.
- Make sure your AI provider is set to Google Gemini.
- Paste and save the Gemini API key from the paid Google AI Studio project if you have not done it already.
- In Settings / Advanced AI Settings / Conversations, look for Web Search tool and turn it on.
- Start a Gemini conversation and ask a current-information question, for example about recent news, a current product, or a public event.
If MetaLensAI shows a billing warning, verify that the exact Google AI Studio project behind your saved Gemini API key is Tier 1 or higher and has active prepaid credits.
When to use Web Search
- Use it for current facts, recent events, live public information, and questions where Gemini's training cutoff may not be enough.
- Keep it off when you only need normal conversation, translation, brainstorming, or analysis that does not require current web data.
- Use GPS in MetaLensAI for nearby places, travel time, routes, and location-aware questions.
- Watch your Google AI Studio usage and prepaid balance if you use Web Search during long hands-free sessions.
Related AI guides
- Gemini setup for MetaLensAI - connect a Google AI Studio API key and use Gemini conversations on Meta smart glasses.
- GPS on Meta Glasses - use location context for ETA, nearby places, and route guidance.
- Wake Word setup - start ChatGPT or Gemini hands-free with a wake phrase.
- ChatGPT setup for MetaLensAI - connect an OpenAI API key for ChatGPT conversations and picture analysis.