In a significant update for its users, Google has announced the resumption of the rollout for its AI-driven Ask Photos feature, which had been temporarily paused three weeks ago due to numerous user complaints. The tech giant is optimistic that this iteration will address the issues that plagued the initial release, aiming to enhance user experience considerably.

Initially introduced last fall, the Ask Photos feature allows users to query their photo collections in the Google Photos app with natural language. For instance, users can inquire, "Where was that restaurant we ate at in San Francisco?" or ask for a collection of selfies from their visit to New York City museums. The AI, powered by Google's Gemini, is designed to understand these inquiries and retrieve relevant images. Users can even pose open-ended questions such as, "Which of my photos would make the best phone background?"—a feature that showcases the potential of AI in personal photo management.

Despite the promising capabilities, the rollout experienced considerable backlash from users who found the feature to be slow and often inaccurate. Reports indicated that Ask Photos struggled to retrieve the appropriate images, with Google’s own project manager acknowledging that the feature “isn't where it needs to be.” This sentiment was echoed by ZDNET Senior Editor Sabrina Ortiz, who reported in February that her experience with Ask Photos had detracted from the overall utility of Google Photos.

In response to this feedback, Google recently published a blog post indicating that they have taken user concerns seriously. The company stated, “We’re bringing the best of Photos' classic search feature into Ask Photos,” which is expected to enhance the efficiency of both simple and complex queries. Users can now anticipate quicker responses for straightforward searches like "beach" or "pizza," while Gemini continues to work behind the scenes to deliver results for more intricate inquiries.

However, not all users are convinced that the updated feature is functioning as intended. Earlier this month, Google had provided a straightforward option to revert to the classic search function, but that quick fix has been removed in the latest update. Users who prefer the older method can still opt out of Ask Photos altogether. To do this, they need to tap their profile picture in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Photos app, navigate to Settings, select Preferences, and then adjust the Gemini features toggle under the Search with Ask Photos option. Disabling this toggle will revert the search function back to the traditional method.

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