Google Responds to User Complaints About AI-Powered ‘Ask Photos’ Search Feature

In a modest concession to users who do not want AI woven into every part of the apps they use, Google said it is now introducing a toggle that will let people using Google Photos switch back to the older — and often quicker — “classic” search experience instead of relying on the newer AI-powered feature called “Ask Photos.”

Ask Photos, which launched in the United States in 2024, allows users to search their photo libraries using natural language prompts, including more complex requests. The rollout of the feature was briefly paused last summer while Google addressed latency issues following user feedback.

Some Google Photos users never fully embraced the AI-powered search experience, saying Ask Photos still failed to locate certain pictures and that its results were less accurate than those of the older search system.

Although Google had previously provided a way to disable Gemini in Google Photos, the option was tucked away in the settings and easy to miss.

The company now says it will provide a simpler and more visible way for users to switch between the two search modes. A new toggle on the search screen will let people turn off the AI-powered Ask Photos search and view classic search results instead. Google said it will still prioritise whichever results it believes best match a user’s query.

In the announcement, which Google Photos shared, lead Shimrit Ben-Yaiy indicated that user concerns about Ask Photos prompted the change. In a post on X, Ben-Yair wrote, “We’ve heard your feedback that you want more control over the type of results you see when searching in Google Photos.”

She also said Google had improved the quality of some of the most common searches, again based on user feedback.

“We know search in Photos is one of the most loved and used features, and we’re committed to getting this experience right, so please keep the feedback coming! It helps us build a more magical experience for everyone,” she said.