Google Photos starts rolling out 'Ask Photos' AI feature to US users

Google has begun rolling out its latest AI-powered feature, ‘Ask Google Photos,’ to select users in the US. The tool, which allows users to interact with their photo library using natural language queries, is gradually appearing in the Google Photos app as part of a server-side update. This follows Google’s announcement in September and its invitation for users to join a waitlist.

‘Ask Google Photos’ is now rolling out

The ‘Ask Google Photos’ feature enables users to search their photo collection with more complex and detailed prompts. For instance, users can ask for specific memories, such as images of Halloween costumes over the years or the day their child first swam.

While Google opened a waitlist for the feature in early September, the full rollout has only recently gained momentum. Reports suggest that more users have received the update within the last few days. Once it’s activated for a user account, the feature is available across all devices, including Android and iOS.

Once ‘Ask Google Photos’ is available, users will see a new tab replacing the traditional “Search” tab in the Google Photos app. The classic search function remains accessible but is now secondary to the new query-based interface. Users must first submit their questions in ‘Ask Google Photos’ before using the conventional search.

Upon first using the feature, users are prompted to review how it works, and the data it requires, and confirm some essential details. For instance, the tool needs correct names attached to people in photos and information about relationships with people and pets, based on how frequently they appear in your library.

This feature’s performance so far

9to5Google has reported that in initial testing, ‘Ask Google Photos’ has shown mixed results. It excels in finding photos related to people and places but struggles with event-specific queries. For example, asking about a significant life event, such as moving into a new home, might return inaccurate images from different years. However, the feature works more reliably when asked to find recent pictures of specific friends or family members.

Google has demonstrated how location data can help refine searches. The AI feature can retrieve images of specific meals at certain restaurants or activities at particular locations. However, results vary based on individual libraries and the quality of data attached to the photos.

While not all users have access to ‘Ask Google Photos’ yet, those who joined the waitlist earlier this month are likely to see the feature soon. For now, the rollout is exclusive to U.S. users, though Google has not provided a timeline for when it may expand to other regions.