Google’s AI-powered Photos upgrades are slowly starting to arrive. Ask Photos, the Gemini-powered chatbot that lets you get ultra-specific and conversational with your photo searches, is launching in early access for select users in the US. In addition, improved search for more descriptive Google Photos queries is rolling out to all English-speaking users starting today.
The upgraded search in Google Photos lets you use more descriptive queries. For example, while you could previously search for “lake,” you can now enter “kayaking on a lake surrounded by mountains.” Or, instead of just searching for your friend Alice, you can choose “Alice and I laughing.” The idea is that as our cloud-based photo libraries grow, it’s easier to narrow things down.
Ask Photos, the Google Photos chatbot that the company revealed at I/O in May, takes this even further. Powered by Gemini, it adds a new tab at the bottom of the Photos app that lets you ask about anything in your library using natural language.
Google gave examples such as “Show me the best photo from the national parks I’ve visited,” which uses location data to sift through your park photos and makes some subjective robotic decisions to determine a favorite. Other examples given by the company include “What did we eat at Stanley’s Hotel?” and “Where did we camp the last time we went to Yosemite?”
Like other chatbot features, Ask Photos can respond to follow-up prompts. So, if it misses the target the first time, you can tell it to change its parameters and try it again.
Google says your photo data will never be used for advertising. Although humans can review the query, they’ll be disconnected from your Google account, so reviewers won’t know who typed the input. Real people will not review Ask Google answers, including photos or videos, unless you provide feedback or (only in rare cases, according to the company) address abuse.
If you’re in the U.S., you can sign up for a waitlist to get early access to Ask Photos starting today. In the meantime, Google Photos’ more descriptive search powers are now rolling out to English-speaking users on Android and iOS.
As a reminder, Circle to Search is an AI-powered feature that Google released early last year. You can access it by long-pressing your phone’s home button and then circling something with your finger. At its most basic, the feature is a way to use Google Search from anywhere on your phone without having to switch between apps. It’s especially useful when you want to do an image search since you don’t have to take a screenshot or tell Google what you’re looking for.
As for the improvements I mentioned, Google is adding one-tap actions for phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs, meaning if Circle to Search recognizes them, it will allow you to call, email, or visit a website with a single tap. Again, there’s no need to switch between apps to interact with those elements.