What you need to know
- Google has unveiled a support document detailing the integration of its new Gemini AI with the Photos app for Android devices.
- This innovative feature allows users to “search for a specific memory or recall information” from their photo collections, utilizing details such as places, faces, dates, and events.
- Currently, this functionality is being rolled out to a select group of invited users.
- While reminiscent of the “Ask Photos” test, Google hinted at these capabilities during a significant announcement regarding the Gemini app.
In an exciting development, Google has introduced a fresh iteration of its Photos app, seamlessly integrated with its AI model, Gemini. According to a recent support document, users can now engage in a more intuitive search for memories within their galleries. This enhancement allows for natural language queries that can specify themes and past events, making it easier than ever to locate cherished moments.
Gemini’s capabilities extend to answering questions about locations and the dates when photos were captured. Users can even describe the image they seek, and Gemini will handle the rest, streamlining the process of rediscovery. Once the desired photo is identified, users can simply tap on it within the AI’s interface, which will then open the image in the Photos app. If Gemini presents an entire album, a single interaction will reveal the full collection within Photos. Additionally, Android users can enjoy the convenience of dragging and dropping images from the Gemini overlay into other applications.
These new features are currently available in the Gemini app for Android, including tablets, but access is limited to a select group of invited users. Google has indicated that not everyone will be granted early access, and prompts must be provided in English for this testing phase. For those fortunate enough to gain entry, it is essential to log into Gemini using the same Google account associated with Photos. Google plans to enhance the integration further, allowing users to connect their Photos content with Gemini in the near future.
Gemini’s Rediscovery
At first glance, the features being showcased bear a striking resemblance to the “Ask Photos” test currently in early access through Google Labs. The recent support document acknowledges this similarity, inviting users to opt-in for the experience. The early access phase began in September, with Google expressing confidence in Gemini’s ability to “understand the context” of users’ galleries.
The “Ask Photos” test integrates some of Gemini’s functionality directly within the Photos app, while the latest updates promise a more robust integration through the dedicated Gemini mobile application. This evolution may stem from Google’s extensive announcement regarding the Gemini app’s personalization updates, which explicitly mentioned the Photos app, allowing users to seek assistance based on their photo collections. Although there was no mention of any experimental influences, it is possible that such elements are subtly woven into the fabric of this new offering.
