Google Photos is making waves with the rollout of its Gemini AI-powered Ask Photos feature, designed to transform how users interact with their photo collections. Currently being made available to select users, this innovative tool leverages advanced artificial intelligence to streamline photo retrieval and organisation. As the feature becomes accessible to more users in the coming weeks, here’s everything you need to know about its functionality and usage.
What is the Ask Photos feature?
The Ask Photos feature harnesses the power of Gemini AI, a machine learning model developed by Google. Ask Photos allows users to conduct searches for specific images by typing conversational queries. The feature will replace the traditional Search tab, appearing in the bottom-right corner of the Google Photos app. Users can enter detailed questions or more general prompts to help the AI locate images stored in their cloud storage.
The feature is available to both Android and iOS users who signed up for the waitlist for early access. As the rollout continues, those who joined the waitlist are now gaining access to Ask Photos.
With Ask Photos, users can request images using detailed queries that may consist of multiple sentences. If the AI doesn’t find the desired image on the first try, users can ask follow-up questions for further clarification.
Google assures that user privacy remains a priority. Queries made through Ask Photos will not be used for advertising purposes. Although some prompts may be reviewed by humans, this process will occur only after the user’s account has been disconnected.
The feature utilises various data processing methods, including generating text descriptions for images, facial recognition, and compiling data based on location and timestamps. This helps provide context for searches, such as identifying images taken during a vacation within specific dates.
How to use the Ask Photos feature
To use the Ask Photos feature in Google Photos, you need to meet certain prerequisites. First, you must be 18 years or older and located in the United States. Additionally, your Google Account language must be set to English (United States), and Face Groups should be enabled in your settings. Currently, the Ask Photos feature is rolling out to a select group of invited users, and these requirements may change over time, says Google. If you’re ineligible, you can still utilise the classic Search function. To get started, ensure you have the latest version of the Google Photos app installed on your device. Open the app and sign in with your Google Account, then look for the Ask Photos feature in the bottom-right corner, which will replace the traditional Search tab. Tap the icon and enter your query using natural language. The AI will process your request and display relevant images.
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