Google is launching a new feature for Google Photos that will change how users explore their images. The feature, called Ask Photos, uses AI to let people search their photos using natural language. Instead of scrolling through endless pictures, users can ask questions like, “Where did I camp last year?” or “What did I eat at the market in Thailand?” and the app will find the photos.
Ask Photos is now available to select iOS and Android users. It helps people find specific moments in their photo collections. This feature goes beyond a basic search, looking at context and details that are often overlooked.
Bring back memories with Google’s Ask Photos feature
Ask Photos understands not just what’s in a picture, but also the story behind it. Users can ask about the theme of a family birthday party and the feature can recognize decorations or the design on a cake. It’s like having a personal assistant that understands your life from your photos. Here’s what you can do with this AI:
- Quickly find the best memories from your photos.
- Search your vacation photos by location and event.
- Search for old events by theme.
- Find photos of your meals by location.
- Remind you of ticket expiration dates.
- Organize your travel photos and choose the highlights.
Google‘s Gemini AI powers this feature, which sorts photos and answers user queries in ways that standard search functions cannot. Ask Photos helps you find the best shots from a trip or ticket expiration dates. You can join the waitlist to get early access. It’s still new but looks like it will be a useful tool for managing your photos.
Google says there’s no privacy problem
People worry about privacy when new features involve personal data. Google says it won’t use users’ Google Photos data for advertising. In rare cases, human review may be involved, but personal data will not be linked to individual Google accounts.
Google says that images and answers through Ask Photos are kept private unless users give feedback that triggers a review. This should calm any concerns about data misuse. Google has been testing Ask Photos since it was previewed at Google I/O. As more users gain access, its capabilities will grow. Signing up for the waitlist is the first step to experiencing this new photo search technology.
Featured image credit: Google
