Google tweaked its AI-powered Ask Photos feature and restarted its rollout

Google has resumed the rollout of its AI-powered Ask Photos feature to eligible users in the US after pausing it in June due to issues with latency and interface. The company has improved the feature's speed, especially for simple searches, by combining it with the old Google Photos search. This allows the app to quickly return basic image recognition-based results, which are then replaced by more complex Gemini responses once they're complete. Ask Photos uses AI to enable natural language searches through Google Photos libraries, allowing users to find information they may not have realized was stored in their photos. The feature was announced at Google I/O 2024 and initially rolled out in September, but was met with complaints about its slow response times and replacement of traditional search. The revamped feature splits the difference by combining results, making it more user-friendly. To access Ask Photos, users must be at least 18 years old, based in the US, have a Google Account with English as the language, and have the "Face Groups" feature turned on. The feature is useful for sourcing information from photos, such as license plate numbers or restaurant visits. Google Photos users who meet the eligibility criteria can now access Ask Photos, which is rolling out once again. The improved feature aims to provide a better user experience and more accurate search results.