What you need to know
- Google has unveiled an update to its Photos application, enhancing the speed of its Ask Photos feature for broader queries.
- When users search for general terms such as “beaches” or “dogs,” Ask Photos will now prioritize displaying relevant results while Gemini continues to refine more specific outcomes.
- Initially launched in September 2024, Ask Photos has recently undergone a redesign of its Gemini chat interface.
In a move to enhance user experience, Google is gearing up to accelerate its AI-driven photo search capabilities on Android devices. The tech giant recently shared insights about an upcoming update for Ask Photos, its innovative AI search tool within Google Photos, through a detailed blog post. This update aims to address a significant concern raised by users regarding the perceived slowness of Ask Photos in returning results.
According to Google, the speed enhancement primarily targets the AI’s performance in handling broad queries, such as those related to “beaches” and “dogs.” While Ask Photos will now deliver immediate results in the form of a grid view of images that align with the user’s interests, Gemini will continue its behind-the-scenes work to sift through and identify the most relevant photos or information.
The blog post illustrated this process with an example, showcasing a seamless Gemini animation that scans through the user’s photo library before presenting the “Best Results” that it believes best match the search query.
Ask (Gemini) Photos
Accompanying this update is a broader rollout of Ask Photos, which is now available to English-speaking users in the U.S. aged 18 and older, moving beyond its initial early access phase. The AI search feature first made its debut last September when Google Labs opened the early access waitlist. Throughout its testing phase, Gemini has played a crucial role in helping users discover their content through text-based queries.
While Gemini has been designed to comprehend queries related to people, food, and places, user feedback has indicated that the AI’s response time could be improved. With this latest update, users can expect a more efficient experience when seeking a wide array of images from their collections.
Earlier this year, Ask Photos also underwent a subtle user interface overhaul. Google refined the chat interface, introducing a “try asking” section filled with suggested actions. This revamped UI will now showcase users’ photos as Gemini diligently searches for the requested content, accompanied by a text response detailing the findings.
