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technology23h ago
Google gives in to users' complaints over AI-powered 'Ask Photos' search feature | TechCrunch
Techcrunch.com and 1 more
- Google adds a visible toggle in Google Photos to switch between AI-powered Ask Photos and classic search, giving users a clearer control pathway.
- Users can disable Ask Photos results and view classic results via the new toggle, aligning search behavior with user preference.
- Google commits to still surfacing the most relevant results for a given query, even with the AI toggle in place.
- The update is framed as a response to user feedback about AI-infused search concerns in Photos.
- Shimrit Ben-Yair, Google Photos lead, announced the toggle as part of the broader effort to give users more control.
- Feedback requesting more control over result types prompted Google to provide a settings-led option to disable AI-driven results.
- The Ask Photos feature originally launched in the U.S. in 2024 and faced latency and performance issues, leading to scrutiny.
- Google had previously offered a way to disable Gemini in Google Photos, though it was buried in settings and often overlooked.
- Officials note ongoing improvements to AI-powered search, highlighting quality gains in popular queries based on user feedback.
- Users can expect the toggle to appear on the search screen, enabling a straightforward switch between AI and classic search modes.
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