In May of last year at Google I/O, Google introduced a new search feature for Google Photos called “Ask Photos.” This AI-driven capability aimed to revolutionize searching by enabling users to locate long-lost images, find specific content within pictures, and effortlessly create collages through conversational queries. However, since its rollout began in October, it appears that “Ask Photos” has been paused due to its underwhelming performance.
This development came to light on Twitter, where the product manager of Google Photos engaged with users expressing frustrations about the slow performance of “Ask Photos” and inquired about the possibility of opting out.
While acknowledging the feature’s limitations, the manager mentioned that Google had halted its gradual rollout, with plans for an improved version to be released in the coming weeks. First, it’s notable that this rollout has been exceptionally slow; starting in October 2024 and only reaching “very small numbers” of users by June. Second, it’s curious that Google paused the rollout without any prior acknowledgment—was this decision made months ago, or is it a response to the recent public complaints?
Having personally tested “Ask Photos” back in October and finding it slow and unhelpful, I promptly disabled it. I sincerely hope the new version offers significant speed improvements. Otherwise, I will continue relying on the classic search functionality in Google Photos, as often in the early stages of AI, simpler queries are more effective.
For those looking to disable “Ask Photos,” here’s how:
- Open Google Photos on your mobile device.
- Tap your profile picture, then select “Photo settings.”
- Go to “Preferences.”
- Find “Gemini features in Photos.”
- Toggle off “Search with Ask Photos.”
After completing these steps, the bottom bar in the Google Photos app will change from “Ask” to “Search.” Enjoy the classic, more efficient search experience.
// The Verge