Google Wallet now lets you add passports, library cards, and health insurance, thanks to AI

If you live in the US

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Ahead of itsMade By Google event,where we expect big newPixel 9phone reveals,Googlehas released the AI-powered update to Android’s Wallet app, which was announced atGoogle I/O 2024.This update will make it much simpler to save a broader range of digital passes (if you live in the US, that is).

Previously, Google Wallet allowed you to add and save payment cards, transit passes, loyalty cards, gift cards, and some ID cards, with one final extra option letting you take pictures of anything else you might want to add with a QR code or barcode. That Photo mode has received a major overhaul in the latest app update; it’s now labeled Everything Else, and it recognizes a much more comprehensive range of pass types, which are:

Simply hit the Add to Wallet button on the main page, select Everything Else, take a picture of it, edit any details that the AI scanned incorrectly, and press Save.

Just like your other Wallet additions, these items can be shared with your other Google Wallets. With the exception of passes that contain sensitive info – such as those related to health or government ID – they’ll stay only in the Wallets you manually add them to.This Google Wallet update certainly makes it feel much more like a real wallet – especially with the addition of Driver’s licenses – but we wouldn’t recommend having it fully replace the real thing. While a digital version of some ID might help in emergency situations, we expect nine times out of ten a photo of your driver’s license or passport won’t cut the mustard.

If you’re still seeing the old Photo option, it’s because you aren’t a US-based Android user or because the update hasn’t yet rolled out to your device. Keep an eye out for it, and the feature should be in your Wallet app soon enough.

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Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

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