Google Photos promises more precise search after user complaints

Google now allows you to choose how to search within your images: opt for quick and familiar results or more detailed queries supported by artificial intelligence. The novelty, announced by the person responsible for the app, comes after criticism of the performance of the Gemini-based function and can change the daily experience of millions of users.

The update adds an alternative within the search Google Photos that allows you to choose between the traditional and the one driven by AI, known as Ask Photos. The measure responds to the fact that many users reported slowness and unpredictable results since the initial launch.

Ask Photos was introduced at Google I/O 2024 as a way to find images not only by keywords, but by contextual details extracted from the photos and their metadata. However, mass adoption had to be stopped in June after negative comments about its performance, and the feature had not yet been deployed in countries such as Spain.

Since then, Google has worked on optimizations and, according to the executive herself, is already beginning to implement the option that allows alternating between searches. In practice this means:

• Classic search: faster results and a large list of photos that match general terms.
• Ask Photos (IA): more specific queries, for example locating “the first time Emma rode a bike” instead of just “kids on bikes.”
• Ability to change the mode at any time, according to the user’s need.
• Specific improvements in the quality of popular searches (pets, clothes, objects) based on direct feedback.

The person responsible for the application, Shimrit Ben-Yairexplained that the intention is to return control to the people who use the app: if they prioritize speed, the classic system will be the default option; If they prefer more precise and contextualized results, they can activate the search with AI.

For the average user this has several immediate implications: less frustration from slow searches, the ability to get more concrete results when needed, and a gradual transition of the AI ​​function as its performance improves.

It is important to emphasize that, although the update has already begun to roll out, the availability schedule may vary by region and device. The company indicates that adjustments to the most in-demand queries are already underway, which increases the likelihood that Ask Photos arrive soon in more markets, including Spain.

In addition to leading Google PhotosBen-Yair oversees products like Google One and AI-linked subscriptions, a fact that contextualizes his push to integrate smart capabilities into Google services. The recent decision suggests a shift toward a more cautious rollout, prioritizing user experience over aggressive rollout.

Bottom line: If you use Google Photos, you’ll now have the option to prioritize speed or accuracy. The development seeks to balance the promise of AI with the practical need for consistent results, and will set the pace for the upcoming global rollout of Gemini-based features.

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