Google Photos' AI Search Falls Short: 3 Fixes to Improve It

I recently got the chance to try out Google's new feature, Ask Photos, which they unveiled last year and started rolling out through Google Labs in September. As someone who's been using Google Photos for over a decade, despite being an iPhone user, I was eager to see how this AI-enhanced feature would stack up against the already impressive classic search.

With Google Photos, I've always been able to quickly find photos by searching for terms like "cake," "hot dog," "red dress," or "beach trip." The classic search is incredibly efficient and has always set a high standard. So, naturally, I had high hopes for Ask Photos.

1. Differentiate it from the classic search experience

When I first tried Ask Photos, I searched for "photos of me as a baby." The response? "I didn't find any photos of you as a baby, but I might have missed them!" However, when I switched to the classic search and typed "baby photos," it instantly showed me all the baby pictures in my library, including the ones I was looking for.

It felt like a waste of time using conversational terms when I could have just used the same keywords I'm used to in classic search. In another attempt, I searched for "Me in a red dress," and after a delay, Ask Photos mistakenly thought I was looking for baby pictures again. It then showed me photos of anyone in a red dress, not just me. Meanwhile, the classic search quickly displayed photos of me in red dresses over the years, with my photos prioritized at the top.

For Ask Photos to truly stand out, it needs to offer a significant upgrade over the classic search, which it currently doesn't.

2. Make Ask Photos significantly faster

Despite my initial disappointment, Ask Photos did have its moments. For instance, when I asked it to show me pictures of my Corgi, it not only pulled up all the relevant photos but also mentioned his name and activities. Similarly, it successfully displayed many of the homemade meals I've cooked over the years when I asked for pictures of the food I made.

However, the speed of Ask Photos is a major issue. Even when it showed the correct results, it lagged a few seconds behind the near-instantaneous classic search. While a few seconds might not seem like much, it's noticeable when you're used to quicker results. Google should aim for a speed closer to that of the Gemini chatbot, which is much faster.

3. Expand the 'beyond search' offerings

One of the touted features of Ask Photos was its ability to go beyond simple searches, such as creating a highlight reel of special moments from your camera roll. While this feature worked well when I tried it, it didn't feel groundbreaking enough to make Ask Photos indispensable.

I believe Google could enhance Ask Photos by integrating more of its AI capabilities. For example, users could ask Gemini to remove or add elements to photos, apply filters, or even edit images directly within Ask Photos. While creating a video montage might not be a daily need for most people, quick photo editing could be a practical everyday tool.

How to access

Since Ask Photos is still in its experimental phase, you'll need to join the waitlist to try it out. Head over to the Google Photos page, scroll down to the Ask Photos section, enter your Gmail address, and click the "Join the waitlist" button.

How to un-access

If you find yourself missing the classic search, you can easily switch back by clicking "Switch to classic search" on the Ask page. To disable Ask Photos temporarily, go to your profile picture in the upper right corner, navigate to Google Photos settings, then Preferences, and finally to Gemini features in Google Photos. Toggle off the "Search with Ask Photos" feature to revert to the classic search.