Google Photos’ rolls out “Ask Photos” AI search

Google has begun rolling out its new AI-powered search feature, “Ask Photos,” within its Google Photos app, marking a significant enhancement in how users can search and interact with their photo libraries.

First announced at the Google I/O developer conference in May, the feature will initially be available to select users in the U.S. through early access, with a broader rollout expected soon.

“Ask Photos,” powered by Google’s Gemini AI model, allows users to search their photo collections using natural language queries. This marks a departure from the app’s previous search capabilities, which were limited to finding specific people, places, or objects within images.

Google Photos

Now, users can ask more complex questions that require the AI to understand the context and content of the photos.

For example, users might ask for the “best photo from each of the National Parks I visited,” with the AI evaluating various factors like lighting, blurriness, and geolocation to deliver the most relevant results. The feature also allows for practical inquiries, such as asking what was ordered during a previous visit to a particular restaurant or recalling the theme of a child’s past birthday party.

The AI’s advanced understanding of a user’s photo gallery extends to recognizing significant people, hobbies, and locations, enabling more personalized and insightful searches. This context-aware functionality can help users organize their photos into albums or create summaries of past events and trips.

Google Photos

Currently, “Ask Photos” is being tested within Google Labs, reflecting its experimental status. Google has assured users that their private data will not be used for ad targeting.

While user queries may be reviewed by Google employees to enhance the AI, the responses generated by the AI will remain private unless a user contacts support or reports an issue.